[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 23, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H4736-H4744]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1740
        HONORING RON GETTELFINGER FOR HIS LEADERSHIP OF THE UAW

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 6, 2009, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent on behalf of my 
colleagues that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to 
revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on 
the subject of my Special Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a dear friend to 
many of us and a man that many of us here admire greatly on his 
retirement as UAW President. I refer to Ron Gettelfinger, a great 
citizen, a great patriot, a great leader of labor, and a wonderful 
human being. Ron Gettelfinger did not want to have any recognition of 
his labors on behalf of working men and women and on behalf of the 
people at this particular time. But I think he will forgive us if we go 
on to say a few of the things about the respect in which he is held and 
why that be so.
  For the last 8 years, Ron Gettelfinger has led the UAW as their 
president, and he has done so both loyally and ably through some of the 
most difficult economic times facing our Nation or facing the union. 
Through his hard work and dedication to his brothers and sisters of the 
UAW, we have witnessed the auto industry to right itself and to begin 
to come out of some of the worst times which it has confronted in its 
history. It is interesting to note that as the head of one of the most 
democratic unions in the world, Ron Gettelfinger was able to lead the 
union in a way which saved the industry and which enabled the industry 
to have negotiations about give-backs and other things always difficult 
to sell to the rank and file.
  Elected in 2002 as international president of the UAW, Ron 
Gettelfinger rose through the ranks, beginning his career first as a 
member of UAW Local 862 in 1964. He worked in Ford's Louisville 
assembly plant as a chassis line repairman while he attended Indiana 
University Southeast at night, and it is the workers there who first 
recognized Ron's extraordinary qualities and elected him to represent 
them. He then went on to serve as Region 3 UAW director and UAW vice 
president.
  Throughout his time in these roles, he fought relentlessly and 
tirelessly to ensure workers had the quality of life they deserve by 
making health care accessible and affordable to all, ensuring new jobs 
in industry through the manufacturing of advanced technology vehicles, 
and addressing workers' rights provisions in fair trade agreements. He 
gave extraordinary leadership not just to the union and the industry 
but to the country.
  As we have all known, Ron does not back down from a challenge. During 
the most difficult times in the auto industry, he worked together with 
business in a very close fashion to assure the survival of the industry 
and the companies which the UAW had negotiated agreements with. He 
negotiated a new round of contracts with The Big Three, creating 
voluntary beneficiary associations to provide health care to retirees 
in the Big Three and to save huge amounts of money to the auto 
companies. He was one of the leadership in not only determining that 
government assistance would be needed but in seeing to it that the 
union's voice was heard and that the saving of the auto industry was 
participated in very actively by the UAW and by the members that he 
served. He once said of himself, We did what we had to do to save the 
industry. And now, less than a year later, the auto industry is once 
again profitable and expanding production. In fact, Chrysler is hiring 
again for the first time in 10 years.
  Fortunately, cars from the Big Three, when the companies and the 
unions and their members work together, are safe and reliable, and this 
year have earned the highest quality ratings in J.D. Power and 
Associates' annual Initial Quality Study, beating import brands by 
satisfying margins. It is the workers and the members and the leaders 
of the UAW who have worked so hard to ensure that through times of 
turmoil, our domestic auto industry continues to produce the best and 
the safest vehicles while increasing in extraordinary ways the 
productivity of the workplace.
  And at a time when union membership is at its lowest in years, it has 
fought relentlessly to ensure that workers who want to organize can do 
so. Together with his other colleagues in labor, he has advocated for 
the Employee Free Choice Act, for legislation which will allow workers 
to decide if they want to use a majority signup to form a union, 
protecting them from employer coercion. But he has gone well beyond the 
needs and the concerns of labor. He has worked for education, for 
health care, for a clean and wholesome environment, for the health of 
our young and old, and for the protection of the rights of Americans.
  Now, like Ron, I think our country agrees that these things are 
necessary and helpful; but he understands, as do many of his admirers, 
that labor's responsibilities and duties go far beyond the simple 
concerns of labor, and go to seeing to it that this country is the best 
that we, working together, can make it be.

[[Page H4737]]

  Ron Gettelfinger and I and most of us here share the belief that the 
future success of the auto industry is going to be dependent on 
developing advanced batteries and electric and hybrid cars here at home 
and other technologies which will enable us to compete in the savagely 
competitive world marketplace. He is one who has supported training 
workers in these technologies not only to help the companies and the 
industry but also to provide workers with continued job opportunities. 
He has been there through ebbs and flows.
  And the one thing that you can always count on Ron Gettelfinger 
having was honesty, integrity, and steadfastness. Whether he was 
delivering good news or bad, he always dealt with the facts. It is 
because of his honesty in his dealings with everyone, his brothers and 
sisters, business management, and labor join me tonight in praising and 
pointing out that he has properly earned the trust, admiration, and 
respect of all with whom he works. Ron Gettelfinger once said, We don't 
accept the notion that America is a country where a privileged few can 
live well while the rest of us struggle to meet our daily expenses. We 
are going to fight for something better. Ron Gettelfinger, you have led 
a fight for something better since the first day that you entered the 
labor movement, and I am glad that I was able to be your friend and 
partner in many of those fights.
  I rise today to honor my dear friend Ron Gettelfinger on his 
retirement as UAW President.
  For the last eight years, Ron has led the UAW as their President 
loyally and ably through some of the most difficult economic times 
facing our Nation.
  Through his hard work and dedication to his brothers and sisters of 
the UAW, we have witnessed the auto industry right itself.
  Elected as UAW President in 2002, Ron rose through the ranks 
beginning is career first as a member of the UAW Local 862 in 1964. He 
worked at Ford's Louisville Assembly plant as a chassis line repairman, 
attending Indiana University Southeast at night. It is the workers 
there who first elected Ron to represent them.
  He then went on to serve as UAW Region 3 Director and UAW Vice 
President. Throughout his time in these roles he has fought tirelessly 
to ensure workers have a quality of life they deserve. By making health 
care accessible and affordable for all, ensuring new jobs in industry 
through the manufacturing of advanced technology vehicles, and workers' 
rights provisions in fair trade agreements.
  And as we have all seen, Ron does not back down from a challenge.
  During the most difficult of times for the auto industry, he has 
worked together with business to ensure its survival, negotiating 
through a new round of contracts with the Big Three in 2007, creating a 
Voluntary Beneficiary Association to provide health care to the 
retirees in the Big Three, and standing with the Big Three when it was 
determined government assistance would be needed.
  As he has said himself, ``We did what we had to do to save the 
industry.'' And now, less than a year later the auto industry is once 
again profitable and expanding production. In fact, Chrysler is hiring 
again for the first time in ten years.
  Fortunately, cars from the Big Three continue to be safe and 
reliable, and this year have earned higher quality ratings in J.D. 
Power and Associates' annual Initial Quality Study beating import 
brands for the first time.
  It is the workers and leaders of the UAW who have helped to ensure 
that throughout times of turmoil, our domestic auto industry continues 
to produce the safest vehicles and increase productivity in the 
workplace.
  And at a time when union membership is at its lowest in many years, 
he has fought relentlessly to ensure that workers who want to organize 
can. Together with his other colleagues in labor, he has advocated for 
the Employee Free Choice Act or legislation that would allow workers to 
decide if they want to use majority sign-up to form a union, protecting 
them from employer coercion.
  Like Ron, I believe that this legislation is sorely needed and I am 
hopeful that this will be passed before November.
  Ron and I also share the belief that the future success of the auto 
industry is going to be dependent on developing advanced batteries and 
electric and hybrid cars here at home. Together we both supported 
training workers in these technologies not only to help the auto 
industry, but also to provide workers with continued job opportunities.
  Throughout the ebbs and flows, the one thing you could always count 
on from Ron was honesty. Whether he was delivering good news or bad, I 
always knew that Ron was giving me the facts.
  It is because of his honesty to me, his brothers and sisters, 
business management and the Members who join me here tonight, Ron was 
able to earn the trust, admiration and respect of those he worked with.
  Ron once said, ``We don't accept the notion that America is a country 
where a privileged few live well while the rest of us struggle to meet 
our daily expenses. We're going to fight for something better.''
  Ron you led the fight for something better, and I am glad I was able 
to be your partner in that fight.
  I now will yield to my good friends from Michigan and from elsewhere 
around the country who have a desire to express, as do I, compliments 
for our dear friend who is now retiring. I yield first to my dear 
friend, Congressman Dale Kildee of Michigan.
  Mr. KILDEE. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend Ron Gettelfinger on his 
leadership of the United Auto Workers for the past 8 years and to wish 
him all the best in his retirement.
  Since 1964, when Ron joined the UAW as a chassis line repairman in 
Louisville, Kentucky, he began a lifetime of service that led him to 
become the international president of the UAW in 2002. As president, 
Ron's leadership has helped guide the organization through some of the 
most difficult times the auto industry has faced. With his 
characteristic straight talk and common sense, he has worked with a 
broad range of stakeholders and has been willing to negotiate to try to 
find solutions to the recent downturn in the domestic auto industry and 
help protect our auto communities.

                              {time}  1750

  This has helped lead to an American auto industry that is well 
positioned to once again be the economic engine that drives the 
American recovery. Ron Gettelfinger has been a tireless advocate for 
American workers and has fought every day to keep American 
manufacturing jobs from being shipped overseas.
  I congratulate Ron on his retirement and thank him for his years of 
advocacy on behalf of American workers. God bless you, Ron. Thank you 
for all you have done for the UAW, for all you have done for this 
country.
  Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I yield now to my distinguished friend 
from Michigan (Mr. McCotter).
  Mr. McCOTTER. I thank the gentleman from Michigan. I thank him for 
all of his guidance and his advice in this institution, one of which is 
being that on these swampy, humid, hot days, a son of Detroit can wear 
seersucker to beat the heat.
  The other that I wish to thank him for is his constant reminder to 
us, through his example, that we work for the people who send us here, 
and that in very difficult times it is crucial that we look past our 
perceived differences and be able to come together on behalf of the 
people who have entrusted us with office to help solve problems for 
them.
  We in Michigan went through this when we saw an entire cherished way 
of life endangered, and we united to come together to help solve that 
problem. The crisis has not passed. It continues to this day, but we 
are on the road to recovery.
  Former president of the United Auto Workers, Ron Gettelfinger is a 
man who understands positions of trust, a man who understands the need 
to do everything he can to honor that trust. As a democratically 
elected president of the United Auto Workers, he did everything within 
his power, in an exceedingly difficult time, to ensure the union's 
survival, to ensure the survival of the auto industry, and to help 
ensure Michiganders' cherished way of life as a manufacturing State and 
as the former arsenal of democracy.
  And I think that this is critical not only for us to remember in 
Michigan as we go forward, but as an example that I hope is set for 
many others in this country and in this Chamber that in a great and 
good country we learn more and show our true measure not by being 
merely able to see the character of our allies, but to see the 
character and virtues of our now erstwhile opponents.
  Ron Gettelfinger's integrity and devotion to the people who trusted 
him with his position is something that he would not talk about because 
he is a humble, honest, hardworking man. It is left to us to do it for 
him, and in some

[[Page H4738]]

ways despite him. Having been on the other side of Mr. Gettelfinger, 
and at times being on the same side, I assure you it is more fun to be 
his ally than his opponent. But I will tell you this: That from this 
strange bedfellow, I wish former UAW President Ron Gettelfinger well in 
his future endeavors, and I have no doubt that whatever the Lord holds 
in store for him, Mr. Gettelfinger will be up to the challenge, and our 
country will be the better for it.
  I can truly say that I am honored to have known him, and I am glad 
that he has done his duty to his union and our Nation.
  Mr. DINGELL. I thank the gentleman, and I yield now to the 
distinguished gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Kilpatrick).
  Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan. I thank the chairman for yielding.
  I rise in honor, respect, and duty to give President Ron Gettelfinger 
all he deserves for his 30-plus years of hard work as an organizer, as 
a laborer, and rising to the presidency of the United Auto Workers.
  Congratulations, Ron. Congratulations for all the work you have done, 
for all the coalition building you have done, keeping our workers front 
and center, in good-paying jobs with benefits that they earned every 
day, building the best cars in America and around the world right 
through the workers of the United Auto Workers.
  We rise today to say, Good for you. As you go into your retirement 
with your lovely wife and family, just know that we appreciate all that 
you have done. Just know that as workers and builders and all of that 
of America that we might have a strong economy, that your commitment, 
your dedication to seeing that workers have adequate wages, that 
workers have clean environments in which to work, that workers are able 
to earn a great day's pay for the work that they do for our economy and 
for our country, thank you, Ron Gettelfinger.
  Many have come before you as president of the United Auto Workers, 
and you can bet you are right there with them, having given and served 
as long as you have. Our recent battle together was the health care 
debate. You, your leadership, your dedication, working with the leaders 
in the House and the Senate and the Presidency for the first time to 
bring to our country a health care bill that will cover 95 percent of 
Americans, we thank you for that.
  No longer will people be charged or not covered for preexisting 
conditions. Soon, in September, all young people over the age of 21 
will now be able to stay on their parents' health care until they are 
26. As we know in our economy, many young people who graduate from high 
school and then on to college are unable to find work. So the health 
care bill will help them be accessible, be able to be covered.
  This health care bill--and Ron Gettelfinger, thank you for your hard 
work in bringing us to this point--it's not perfect, but it's certainly 
better than the status quo. Our status quo health care situation in our 
State is not sustainable. People getting dropped for no reason when 
they become ill, you stopped that as we worked on this health care 
bill. Thank you, Ron Gettelfinger.
  Our seniors will now be able to have their wellness covered, that 
they will have preventive health covered. Our seniors, who now because 
of a Medicare part D program that doesn't always cover their 
prescriptions as prescriptions go higher and higher, for the first 
time, Mr. Gettelfinger, working with the coalition and our leaders here 
in the House and Senate and the Presidency, will now have help paying 
for their prescription medications. Thank you.
  Thank you for your leadership. Fighting for workers, helping to put 
together, finally, a health care bill that we can all be proud of, 
being able to be that president that your men and women of the United 
Auto Workers, as well as all of us, have looked to for leadership, we 
thank you, Ron. Your mild manner, your smile, and your strength, we 
will never forget you.
  So enjoy your retirement, Mr. President. You have earned it. And we 
promise, as we work here in the House of Representatives, we will 
continue to work, as you have worked for all of these 30-plus years, to 
make sure that all Americans, all Americans have an opportunity to work 
in a clean environment, to receive adequate pay for a day's work and, 
yes, have health care benefits to protect them and their family.
  Enjoy your retirement. God bless you, Mr. President.
  Madam Speaker, in an era in which progressive activists are rarer and 
rarer, it is my honor to speak in respect, honor and praise of the 
three decades of service of Mr. Ron Gettelfinger, president of the 
United Auto Workers or UAW. For over 30 years Mr. Gettelfinger has 
shown his dedication to the rights and fair treatment of all workers. 
Rising through the ranks of the United Auto Workers union to his 
leadership position that he has today, Mr. Gettelfinger embodies the 
hard work ethic, dedication to a cause bigger than yourself, and 
respect for family embodied in what the UAW represents. Manufacturing, 
specifically the automotive industry, is the backbone of the State 
economy of Michigan. The UAW has been the backbone of the worker. Ron 
Gettelfinger is known as a fierce advocate and fearless leader in 
fighting for the people who make this country run--the worker.
  From Mr. Gettelfinger's humble beginnings with the union as a line 
repairman in 1964 at Ford Motor Company's Louisville Assembly Plant, to 
his leadership role as president of the UAW in 2002, Mr. Gettelfinger 
has remained faithful to his beliefs. He believes in the fact that we 
are all created equal. He believes that the everyday line worker is 
just as valuable as the CEO of the corporations in which they are 
employed. He has continued to be a voice for the worker, while 
negotiating new union contracts that were not popular to workers or 
management. He has championed the cause of the worker, and for that, 
the worker has championed him.
  If not for the unwavering and unyielding belief that all Americans 
deserve access to affordable health care, sweeping health care reform 
would still be a dream in the United States of America. Mr. 
Gettelfinger, like me, believes that all hard working, taxpaying 
Americans should not face discrimination for pre-existing conditions. 
If you are in the hospital, you should not be dropped from your health 
care plan just because you are ill. We are already beginning to see the 
effects of health care reform, such as seniors receiving subsidies to 
help pay for prescriptions, children allowed to stay on their parents' 
plans until the age of 26, and insurance companies not allowed to drop 
coverage once the patient needs it most. Mr. Gettelfinger has also been 
instrumental in negotiating fair trade agreements that include 
provisions for workers' rights and environmental provisions. He has 
stood strong against what he called the vicious ``corporate global 
chase for the lowest wages, which creates a race to the bottom, in 
which no worker can win.'' He has been, and still remains, a powerful, 
uncompromising voice for all workers.
  From access to affordable healthcare, to labor protection in fair 
trade agreements, to keeping our manufacturing jobs right here in the 
U.S. by investing in technologically advanced American vehicles, Mr. 
Gettelfinger has been there. He not only talks, but knows and lives the 
values of the labor union while working with management to ensure a 
safe and profitable workplace. During a time in which we saw General 
Motors and Chrysler file for bankruptcy--two of the largest 
corporations in our Nation, and the world--Ron Gettelfinger always 
fought for the protection of workers. He saw both sides of an issue, 
and negotiated difficult but necessary compromises to the benefit of 
management and labor. Even with his retirement, this leader's legacy 
will not be forgotten, it will become legend. God bless and Godspeed to 
you, Ron Gettelfinger. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. DINGELL. I thank the distinguished gentlewoman.
  And now I yield to my dear friend from Maryland, the Honorable Donna 
Edwards.
  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Thank you.
  It's really my pleasure to stand here with my good friend Congressman 
Dingell in honoring the incredible life and career and advocacy of Ron 
Gettelfinger, who retired just last week after a distinguished union 
career that began in 1964, when I was just a kid. But I will tell you, 
for the benefits that all of us as Americans and as workers have 
received for his good work with the United Auto Workers, we are all 
grateful.
  And you don't have to be from Michigan to understand the 
contributions that Mr. Gettelfinger has made. He has been a fierce 
advocate on behalf of workers. He understood that in his position as 
president of the United Auto Workers, he needed to try to address the 
current needs of his workers as

[[Page H4739]]

well as the future needs that may come up.
  In 2006, Mr. Gettelfinger pushed to renew America's grasp on 
technology and innovation. He called for a renewal of America's 
industrial base through incentives to manufacture energy-saving 
advanced technology vehicles right here in the United States. And as a 
member of the Science and Technology Committee, I can assure you that 
there is a need for America and a desire for our workforce to do 
exactly what Mr. Gettelfinger has called for, to be on the cutting edge 
of this technology. And he has been right there pushing all the time 
for incentives and innovations. And this isn't new.

                              {time}  1800

  Mr. Gettelfinger was one of the loudest voices, and I was happy to 
sing in his choir for health care reform, for single-payer health care 
reform, because he understood that health care accessibility and 
affordability is necessary, not just for the unionized and organized 
workforce, but for all Americans.
  Under his leadership, the UAW has continued its fight for fair trade 
agreements that include provisions for workers' rights and 
environmental protection. The union has loudly criticized the corporate 
global chase for the lowest wage that creates a race to the bottom that 
no workers in any country can win.
  We have to continue Ron Gettelfinger's fight. We know that he is 
retiring, but we know he is not down and we know his influence will 
carry across this country as we struggle for the working families of 
America. So it is with great honor that I stand here to pay tribute to 
our good friend, to a career of someone who has fought for workers, for 
equality, justice, and for quality of life.
  So thank you, Ron Gettelfinger, for your service and for your career.
  Mr. DINGELL. I thank the distinguished gentlewoman from Maryland.
  I now yield to the distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin), 
the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to join with John Dingell, a 
true champion of the automobile industry of this country for over 50 
years, as we join together to honor Ron Gettelfinger.
  As we know, he recently retired as president of the United Auto 
Workers. Through a period of unprecedented difficulty, and I emphasize 
that, for this industry of ours, Ron Gettelfinger worked tirelessly on 
behalf of auto workers and helped the industry and the union emerge 
reinvigorated and more competitive. So it is my privilege to join 
others to pay tribute to you, Ron, today.
  A proud auto worker, Ron Gettelfinger joined the UAW in 1964 as a 
chassis line repairman at Ford's Louisville assembly plant. The workers 
at the plant elected him to represent him as committee person, 
bargaining chair, and in 1984 as president of Local 862. His leadership 
and vigorous commitment to auto workers soon elevated him to the Ford-
UAW bargaining committee; to the head of UAW Region 3 representing 
Indiana and Kentucky; and to UAW vice president. And in 2002, Ron 
Gettelfinger was elected president of the union and reelected in 2006.
  His tenure as UAW president saw exceptional challenges--to understate 
it--that critics said neither the union nor the automakers could 
overcome. This indeed was a period of painful job loss for tens of 
thousands of families. And during this difficult time, Ron 
Gettelfinger's dedication to working families never waned as he fought 
to preserve jobs while helping to keep the industry afloat. I am proud 
to have been among those who worked with him during this period of 
great uncertainty. This was a collaborative effort. It took leadership 
and at times political risk. Key leaders stepped up to the plate, 
management and labor, and the public sector, led by the President and 
his administration, and Members of the House and Senate.
  In the wake of immense challenge, the American automotive industry is 
emerging anew. Exciting new vehicle technologies, growing consumer 
confidence and strong quality and safety ratings offer hope for the new 
prosperity for the American auto industry and its workers.
  Ron Gettelfinger's commitment to the American auto industry and its 
workers has been unyielding over his career.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join in congratulating Mr. 
Gettelfinger; his wife, Judy; and their children and grandchildren on 
the occasion of his retirement from the union he loved so deeply, the 
UAW.
  Mr. DINGELL. I thank my good friend from Michigan, and I yield now to 
another distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Schauer).
  Mr. SCHAUER. I thank you, Mr. Dingell, and it is an honor to be here 
during this hour to talk about a man who has shaped our Nation's 
economy and manufacturing; and it is an honor to follow Congressman 
Sandy Levin, also from Michigan, who has been a fighter for jobs.
  Ron Gettelfinger, from my experience I can best describe him in a 
couple of stories. We are here to congratulate him on his retirement 
and his legacy with the United Auto Workers. Chairman Dingell and a 
bipartisan delegation from the House of Representatives visited the 
auto show, the North American International Auto Show, at the beginning 
of this year.
  We met with the top leadership of Ford, GM and Chrysler. Ron 
Gettelfinger was right there. It was apparent, as these companies have 
worked through a very challenging time, they had a true partnership in 
their workers; the best workers in the world, and their leader, Ron 
Gettelfinger, was there as each of the management leaders of Ford, GM 
and Chrysler talked about their new technology. They talked about their 
innovations, and they talked about retraining of their workers. They 
talked about more efficient and cost-efficient manufacturing processes. 
Ron Gettelfinger was there as a true partner with each of those 
companies as they talked about their exciting new products made in the 
United States of America by American workers that Ron Gettelfinger 
represented. The best products in the world, the best automobiles in 
the world, that is Ron Gettelfinger.
  Another story hits close to home for me. I represent a lot of auto 
workers and a lot of families that earn their living from 
manufacturing. I have an automotive assembly plant in my district. It 
is General Motors Lansing Delta Township Assembly Plant in Eaton County 
in my congressional district. It is the auto industry's most modern, 
efficient plant in the world.
  Just a year and a half ago or so, that plant was down to just one 
shift making a crossover vehicle. At that time it was the GMC Acadia; 
the Buick Enclave; the Saturn Outlook, a great, best in class, most 
fuel-efficient vehicle in its class. They were down to one shift. Ron 
Gettelfinger, in partnership with General Motors management, made some 
important decisions about that plant, about its products, about its 
company. That plant, which is represented by UAW Local 602, Brian 
Fredline is their president, now today is back to three shifts plus 
overtime. And in addition is making the Chevy Traverse. It is a world-
class vehicle; and Ron Gettelfinger, through his partnership with this 
automotive company, has put people to work. In fact, Michigan, which 
has struggled with high unemployment over the years, actually saw about 
450 families move from Tennessee to work in that plant. And I thank Ron 
Gettelfinger and I thank General Motors for that.
  By the way, the Buick version of this vehicle made in my district by 
UAW Local 602 workers is China's number one imported vehicle.
  What Ron Gettelfinger's work and career and his legacy mean to me is 
he is a champion for manufacturing, and in this country we must fight 
for manufacturing. It is a national security issue. This is the 
industry, the auto industry that built our middle class and that is 
part of Ron's legacy.
  Another is fair trade. We must continue to fight for fair trade, as 
Ron Gettelfinger did in his career, to make sure that our workers, the 
best workers in the world, the most innovative companies in the world 
have a chance to compete on a level playing field. Ron Gettelfinger 
fought for fair labor practices for his workers. He helped transform 
America's economy. And retirees to Ron Gettelfinger were more than 
legacy costs, as some consider them. They are real people.

[[Page H4740]]

  So to Ron Gettelfinger, congratulations and thank you for your 
commitment to the United States of America for good jobs, a middle 
class, for advanced manufacturing and an industry that is on its feet 
again. Bob King will be a very able new president. I wish him well, but 
I am here today, Chairman Dingell, to thank Ron Gettelfinger for all he 
has done for the United States of America.
  Mr. DINGELL. I thank my distinguished friend from Michigan.
  I yield now to the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson 
Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And to the 
Speaker, whenever John Dingell raises his voice to join in honoring a 
leader, you always have to take his affirmation really as an honor of 
that leader. And so no one wants to be left out when it comes to 
honoring someone Chairman Dingell has designated as deserving that 
honor.
  I come far away from Michigan, from Texas, and to be able to say that 
Ron Gettelfinger is an American hero, and America thanks him, because 
he understood the various assets of wealth. He might have understood a 
family in New York or down in Houston, or maybe in Alabama who was able 
to get that first American-made car, made by the men and women of the 
United States, and in this instance those who reside in Michigan. 
Buying a car was a big deal, and I think this president, past president 
of the UAW, understood that. And I am grateful for him understanding 
that. That is why he fought for the men and women of the UAW.
  And so I rise today to join in this Special Order to honor Ron 
Gettelfinger and to thank him for caring about America, for those 
families who work every day all the time to ensure that they might buy 
that first car, that family car, that they could load up a family of 
two, three, four, five or more in a car that they knew would work, that 
had all of the bells and whistles and had the investment of the hard-
earning and the hardworking men and women of the UAW. We want to thank 
him for his hard and exemplary work with organized labor, and we want 
to acknowledge him at this time of his retirement.
  There is no doubt that for his 40 years of service in the interest of 
the average American worker, he deserves the praise of Congress. He 
agreed with something I think that I wholeheartedly agree with: it is 
important for Americans to make things. And how proud we were that we 
could point to the American automobile industry as being made by the 
hands of those who worked hard and made good and made good products. 
America has got to get back to making things; and Mr. Gettelfinger, who 
was involved in the union and worker activities since 1964, I believe 
understood that well.
  Ever since he was elected to represent Ford's Louisville assembly 
plant as committee person, bargaining chair and president, he has 
tirelessly worked for the betterment of the average American worker. It 
should be noted as the UAW votes rose, as they improved their working 
conditions, and of course the contractual conditions and agreements, 
others likewise benefited. His organizing and people skills are 
legendary, as is his steadfast commitment to the American worker, all 
of which made him a symbol of the union movement in the United States 
and an icon to many Americans.
  Mr. Gettelfinger first became a member of the Ford United Auto 
Workers bargaining committee in 1987. Since then, he has held several 
management positions before being elected to his first term of 
president of the UAW in 2002. Under his leadership, UAW was able to 
lobby effectively for labor protections and fair trade agreements, 
including provisions for workers' rights and environmental protections. 
He was a visionary. With the voice of the average worker as his 
motivational mantra, he fervently criticized corporate global 
initiatives designed to strip workers of their right to a living wage 
in the face of economic decline. In addition, he toiled to keep 
American jobs here. He believed in America making things.

                              {time}  1815

  I hope he will leave that legacy, because we've got to get back to 
making things. Mr. Speaker, this is the kind of man who embodies the 
American spirit and symbolizes the importance of the average American 
worker to the success and way of life that we cherish. There is nothing 
wrong with working with your hands and having a decent living. He 
believed in technology, better ways of making cars, more efficiency, 
but he didn't believe in undermining the worker, the American worker. 
Our democracy has been made stronger by the efforts of this unique 
individual. It is only fitting that we honor former president of the 
UAW Ron Gettelfinger for his life's work and give him special praise on 
his retirement.
  Again for these reasons, I rise in support of Chairman Dingell's 
special order and would only leave you to say this: He is a great 
American. We would do well to follow in the footsteps of this great 
American and learn that America is at her best when she can make things 
for the American people and people around the world.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my colleague John Dingell's special 
order to honor Ron Gettelfinger, immediate past president of the United 
Auto Workers, UAW, for his exemplary work with the men and women of 
organized labor, and on the event of his retirement. There is no doubt 
that for his 40 years of service in the interest of the average 
American worker, Mr. Gettelfinger deserves the praise of the Congress.
  Mr. Gettlefinger has been involved in union and worker activities 
since 1964. Ever since he was elected to represent the Ford's 
Louisville Assembly Plant as committeeperson, bargaining chair, and 
president, he has tirelessly worked for the betterment of the average 
American worker. His organizing and people skills are legendary as is 
his steadfast commitment to the American worker; all of which make him 
a symbol of the union movement in the United States and an icon to many 
Americans.
  Mr. Gettelfinger first became a member of the Ford-United Auto 
Workers, UAW, bargaining committee in 1987. Since then, he has held 
several other management positions before being elected to his first 
term as president of UAW in 2002. Under his leadership, UAW was able to 
lobby effectively for labor protections and fair trade agreements, 
including provisions for workers' rights and environmental protections. 
With the voice of the average worker as his motivational mantra, he 
fervently criticized corporate global initiatives designed to strip 
workers of their right to a living wage in the face of economic 
decline. In addition, he toiled to keep U.S. jobs here in America.
  Mr. Speaker, this is the kind of man who embodies the American spirit 
and symbolizes the importance of the average American worker to the 
success and way of life that we cherish. Our democracy has been made 
stronger by the efforts of this unique individual. It is only fitting 
that we honor Ron Gettelfinger for his life's work and give him special 
praise on his retirement.
  Again, for these reasons I rise in support of my friend and 
colleague, John Dingell's special order.
  Mr. DINGELL. I thank the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas.
  I yield now to the distinguished gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Mrs. 
Dahlkemper).
  Mrs. DAHLKEMPER. I would like to thank Congressman Dingell for 
hosting this special hour this evening where we can pay tribute to an 
outstanding leader, businessman and champion of organized labor, Mr. 
Ron Gettelfinger.
  I came to Congress with the promise of standing up for workers' 
rights, a mission that Ron has crusaded for since his days as an 
assemblyman for the Ford Motor Company. His leadership has influenced 
my approach to policy and enhanced the vision of organized labor.
  Ron's 8 years as president of the UAW have ushered in a number of 
defining accomplishments for the American worker. He fought vigorously 
to assure worker protections in major trade agreements while 
understanding that a reformed health care system will better serve 
America's workforce and our entire country.
  Ron's success is defined by a willingness to work with industry and 
construct bipartisan agreements that achieve results, a strategy I 
admire and wish we would see more of here in Congress. As we emerge 
from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, Ron's 
leadership has been stalwart.
  As Americans see thousands of jobs headed overseas, Ron made sure 
that well-paying jobs stayed right here in the United States of 
America. At a

[[Page H4741]]

time when workers' rights were in jeopardy, Ron never thought to back 
down or make concessions. That's real leadership.
  Ron, on behalf of the working men and women of my district in western 
Pennsylvania and all organized labor, thank you. You leave a wonderful 
legacy that has shaped a higher standard for the American worker. I 
wish you the very best in your days ahead. I am proud to stand here 
with the gentleman from Michigan to honor you here tonight.
  Mr. DINGELL. I thank the distinguished gentlewoman.
  I yield now with a great deal of pleasure and respect to my good 
friend from New York, the Honorable Edolphus Towns.
  Mr. TOWNS. Thank you very much.
  I am delighted to come and participate in this special order this 
evening, to be here with the longest serving member of the United 
States House of Representatives, John Dingell. We come tonight to say 
thank you to Ron Gettelfinger for 40 years of service to the UAW, and 8 
years as its president. So I rise in order to honor him tonight because 
of the outstanding job that Ron was able to do.
  It is easy to admire Ron by just looking back over his long career. 
From his early work as a chassis line repairman in 1964 at a Louisville 
assembly plant to being elected to the United Auto Workers top 
leadership post in 2002, where he became the face of one of the largest 
and most diverse unions in North America, he has shown a remarkable 
drive and work ethic that made him a role model as he fought for health 
care and so many issues that improved the quality of life for so many.
  Ron was not a selfish person. He felt that if I can help somebody, 
then my living is not in vain. In addition to his work in the auto 
industry, he has had a positive effect on Federal and State public 
policy. Mr. Gettelfinger is a hardworking individual who has been an 
outspoken advocate for so many good causes.
  Under his leadership, the UAW also lobbied for new technologies and 
environmental standards, supporting smart policies for solid jobs, and, 
of course, clean air. These are issues that have been and continue to 
be very important to me and the people of the 10th Congressional 
District.
  Ron was once quoted as saying, ``We don't accept the notion that 
America is a country where a privileged few live while the rest of us 
struggle to meet our daily expenses. We're going to fight for something 
better.'' And I want you to know he did.
  And, of course, we look back tonight and we say, Ron, thank you. 
Thank you for the outstanding job that you did on behalf of the UAW. 
Thank you for the outstanding job that you have done on behalf of the 
people of this Nation. We thank you for the leadership; and as a 
result, people throughout were able to see you as a role model.
  So I come tonight to say thank you again and we wish you Godspeed. We 
know that you will be out there doing some things in a positive way 
which will continue to improve the quality of life.
  Mr. DINGELL. I want to thank my dear friend from New York for his 
kindness, his fine words, and for his great patience. He is my dear 
friend.
  Mr. Speaker, I have the remarks of many of our other colleagues which 
will be inserted into the Record paying tribute to our great friend, 
Ron Gettelfinger.
  I simply want to observe two things: first, we are saying good-bye 
tonight to a giant, a patriot, a wonderful human being, a man who cared 
about his fellow Americans and who spent his lifetime making it the 
best he could for his fellow Americans, especially members of the trade 
union movement.
  He was never afraid to give leadership to causes that were important, 
and he never was afraid to speak the truth, including to work with me 
and with the companies to address problems that those companies had 
here in Washington, and he was never afraid to tell the truth, even to 
his own members when that was necessary to be done.
  I am pleased to report that in his leaving of office, he leaves 
behind him a great and respected trade union movement, and a wonderful 
union in the UAW. And I am pleased to report to my colleagues that his 
successor, the new president, Bob King, will serve with great 
distinction and as a worthy successor in all aspects of this very 
important leadership responsibility. I congratulate him and wish him 
well.
  Mr. TIERNEY. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of working men and women of the 
Sixth District of Massachusetts, I rise today to commend Ron 
Gettelfinger for his extraordinary service and leadership during his 
recently completed tenure as president of the United Auto Workers of 
America.
  Over the last 8 years, Ron Gettelfinger has helped steer his brothers 
and sisters in organized labor through one of the most difficult 
economic periods in history with great statesmanship and considerable 
care. And despite the unprecedented challenges the auto industry has 
faced, the UAW has emerged from the recent crisis well-positioned for 
the future thanks in no small measure to Ron's vision and leadership.
  Ron's tenure at the UAW was marked by a string of victories for 
American workers and their families. An outspoken advocate to make 
health care accessible and affordable for all Americans, Ron played a 
critical role in helping to see health care reform enacted into law. He 
fought for children's health insurance and fair pay legislation, labor 
protections in fair trade agreements, and championed retaining 
manufacturing jobs here in the United States through investments in 
advanced technology vehicles. And through the most serious economic 
downturn since the Great Depression and the loss of thousands of jobs 
to companies overseas, Ron Gettelfinger always worked to ensure that 
UAW workers and their families were treated fairly.
  Though he rose to the very top of the UAW leadership, Ron 
Gettelfinger never forgot where he came from. He was most proud simply 
to be known as a chassis line repairman. A member of UAW since 1964, it 
was the needs and perspectives of the workers at Ford's Louisville 
Assembly plant with whom he worked side-by-side for so many years that 
always shaped his priorities and concerns.
  With profound appreciation for Ron Gettelfinger's consensus-building 
among business and labor leaders that has helped to preserve a vibrant 
American auto industry for millions of American workers and their 
families, I join my colleagues in thanking Ron for his service and 
wishing him and his family well in the years ahead.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, please allow me to express my sincerest 
gratitude to UAW President Ron Gettelfinger for his leadership during 
this extraordinary moment of transition for the U.S. auto industry. His 
strength, composure, intellect, and resolve have turned a new day for 
this bedrock U.S. industry.
  Ronald A. Gettelfinger, born August 1, 1944, was elected to his first 
term as president of the UAW at the 33rd Convention in 2002. He was 
elected to a second term on June 14, 2006, at the UAW's 34th Convention 
in Las Vegas. A son of the midwest, Ron Gettelfinger is a 1976 graduate 
of Indiana University Southeast in New Albany, Indiana.
  He began his union involvement in 1964 in Louisville, Kentucky, at 
the Louisville Assembly Plant run by Ford Motor Company while working 
as chassis line repairman.
  The workers at Ford's Louisville Assembly plant elected Gettelfinger 
to represent them as committeeperson, bargaining chair and president. 
He was elected president of local union 862 in 1984. In 1987, he became 
a member of the Ford-UAW bargaining committee. Afterwards, he held 
other positions: director of UAW Region 3 and the UAW chaplaincy 
program. For six years he served as the elected director of UAW Region 
3, which represents UAW members in Indiana and Kentucky, before being 
elected a UAW vice president in 1998.
  Ron has been an outspoken advocate for national single-payer health 
care in the United States. Under his leadership, the UAW has lobbied 
for fair trade agreements that include provisions for workers' rights 
and environmental provisions; and the union has loudly criticized what 
it calls ``the corporate global chase for the lowest wage which creates 
a race to the bottom that no workers, in any country, can win''.

  Mr. Gettelfinger's leadership of the UAW has led to a more 
competitive American auto industry. His stalwart and trustworthy 
negotiations gave new hope to a beleagured industrial sector.
  The U.S. auto industry, long the backbone of the American economy, 
reached an important milestone last week--and I think this 
accomplishment did not get the coverage that it deserved.
  The respected J.D. Power & Associates initial quality study revealed 
that U.S. automakers defeated the imports in what the L.A. Times calls 
``a key benchmark of quality.''
  That's right. The American automakers are Number One again.
  It has been a long, tough road, but they have gotten the job done--
and they did it in extremely difficult circumstances.

[[Page H4742]]

  This achievement involved a lot of sacrifice and a good measure of 
``tough love,'' but it has paid off. A cornerstone industry of the 
American economy has turned the corner.
  We congratulate the UAW, because a lot of people--including Members 
of this body--said it couldn't be done. A lot of people said the 
automakers weren't worthy of our support. A lot of people wrote them 
off--and the hundreds of thousands of jobs that the auto industry 
supports in this country.
  Truly, the autoworkers, auto dealers, parts suppliers--and all the 
people who support this giant industry--deserve our commendation.
  Mr. Speaker, this has never happened before. In the quarter of a 
century that J.D. Power quality surveys have been conducted, the U.S. 
automakers never defeated the foreign competition. Until this year.
  As a J.D. Power official told the L.A. Times: ``This is a landmark in 
the quality history of the auto industry.'' He got that right. It is a 
landmark event, and it's a landmark event with great implications for 
our nation.
  The day when the buying public regarded imported cars as superior to 
American cars? It's over.
  The American automakers have been steadily closing the gap on their 
foreign competition for several years. And this year, they finally 
passed them.
  If you want quality, buy American. Take it from J.D. Power.
  There is still a lot of work ahead, but make no mistake: the American 
carmakers are back. Our confidence in them and their workers has been 
rewarded.
  And Ron Gettelfinger, as he officially retires, can be confident his 
life made a difference to millions and millions of others, and to 
communities across our nation that depended on him to lead his great 
union into a new era for the U.S. auto industry.
  Thank you, Ron, for your effort, your service, your patriotism and 
your achievements. May God bless you and yours in the coming years.
  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor Ron Gettelfinger, 
who retired last week from being president of the United Auto Workers. 
Mr. Gettelfinger first joined the UAW as a line repairman in 1964 and 
has now spent a lifetime fighting for the best interests of working 
Americans.
  Mr. Gettelfinger was elected to the Presidency of the UAW in 2002 and 
provided excellent leadership through a difficult time in the history 
of the auto industry in the United States. The auto industry faced 
great hardships during his tenure and as a whole needed to make a lot 
of changes. Mr. Gettelfinger recognized the great changes that needed 
to be made and ably defended his members while working hard to address 
the long term needs of the industry. He understood that the automakers 
and the unions needed to work together to insure that they both could 
go forward stronger than before.
  During his time as President he worked hard not only for his own 
members, but for the rights of all American workers and of all workers 
around the world. In addition to his efforts working for workers, he 
understood the importance of universal health care to having a healthy 
and competitive workforce and he spoke out in favor of health care for 
all Americans. While I think that he and I would both have liked to see 
even more extensive reaching reform, we have taken an important step 
and I applaud his efforts on behalf of health-care reform.
  Mr. Gettelfinger has spent a lifetime of serving working Americans 
and making sure that they are given a fair chance at a fair wage and 
fair work. I wish him the best of luck in whatever he does next, which 
I am sure will include continuing efforts to defend the rights of 
workers and all Americans.
  Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute Ronald A. 
Gettelfinger as he steps down after eight years as president of the 
International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural 
Implement Workers of America. Since 1964, Mr. Gettelfinger has been a 
part of the American automotive industry. When Bob King assumed the 
presidency of UAW on June 15, 2010, it marked the end of an era.
  As a chassis line repairman, after his election by his fellow UAW 
members to represent the workers at Ford's Louisville Assembly plant, 
and his during his twelve years in the leadership of UAW, Ron 
Gettelfinger has worked to ensure that his workers, American workers, 
get a fair deal. He has fought to protect a strong manufacturing sector 
in the United States of America, so that the Arsenal of Democracy could 
continue to lead the world, not just through our production but through 
the standards we hold dear. His priorities have been a just and decent 
wage for honest work. Recognizing the importance of ending our 
dependence on foreign and fossil fuels, as President of UAW he pushed 
for a national investment in new technologies to produce energy-saving 
vehicles.
  These past 44 years have seen great changes in the automotive 
industry. There have been good times and bad. Through it all, Ron 
Gettelfinger never forgot for whom he worked. The past two years may 
have been some of the toughest. But the reorganizations of General 
Motors and Chrysler have marked a turning point and things are looking 
up. The new GM is leaner and tougher than we have seen in years, with 
the Chevrolet Volt leading the way into a bright future. We all look 
forward to that bright future, and I trust that Ron Gettelfinger looks 
to it with pride in the role he played in making it possible.
  Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ronald Gettelfinger, 
president of the United Auto Workers, and longtime advocate of workers 
everywhere. I stand to recognize him for his vision for America.
  Mr. Gettelfinger's first experience with Ford Motor Company's labor 
unions occurred in 1964 when he started working as a chassis line 
repairman at the Louisville Assembly Plant. After a few years, his co-
workers elected him committeeperson, bargaining chair, and president of 
the local union. He worked his way up through UAW Region 3, was elected 
national vice president in 1988, and president in 2002. His second term 
as president will expire with the election of a new president at the 
UAW convention in Detroit later this week.
  Mr. Gettelfinger's down-to-earth personality has been a huge asset to 
him as UAW president. He has stood by the Union's mission to secure 
economic and social justice for all people, and believes that every 
person and every job is important.
  Mr. Speaker, Ron Gettelfinger's leadership as president of the United 
Auto Workers and advocate for health care reform should not go 
unrecognized. I wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.
  Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man of great 
dedication and loyalty to the working men and women of America. Mr. Ron 
Gettelfinger recently retired from his position as President of the 
United Auto Workers and I want to take this opportunity to honor him 
for his longtime advocacy for the American worker.
  Mr. Gettelfinger began his union involvement in 1964 as a chassis 
line repairman at the Ford Motor Company's Louisville Assembly Plant in 
Louisville, Kentucky. Twenty years later, following his election as 
com-
mitteeperson and, soon thereafter, bargaining chair, he was elected 
president of Local Union 862. He took on greater and greater 
responsibility in the UAW, serving as director, vice president, and 
starting in 2002, president of the union. He was reelected for second 
term in 2006. However, in 2009, he announced he would retire at the end 
of his second term as president.
  Mr. Gettelfinger's accomplishments include, but certainly are not 
limited to, his steadfast determination which aided him in his fight 
for both labor protection in fair trade agreements and affordable 
health care for all. Most notably, Mr. Gettelfinger proved himself a 
strong leader during the most serious economic downfall in decades, 
when he negotiated tirelessly with corporate leaders in order to 
protect his workers' rights.
  Mr. Gettelfinger has served the working men and women of the UAW with 
skill and dedication for decades, and I want to take this opportunity 
to commend him for all his efforts as a determined advocate for 
American workers. I want to congratulate Mr. Gettelfinger, and extend 
to him and his family best wishes for a well-deserved retirement.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ron Gettelfinger for 
his tremendous leadership and to congratulate him on the good work he 
has done representing the members of the United Auto Workers (UAW). Ron 
served the UAW as President, Vice President, and as a member of the 
Local 862. I wish him all the best retirement has to offer.
  Since 1964, Ron Gettelfinger has been a proud member of the UAW, and 
served as President since 2002. During this time he advanced the rights 
of working men and women by securing fair wages, better working 
conditions, and fairer trade deals. Ron Gettelfinger also guided the 
UAW through the tough times of the past several years, when the auto 
industry was struggling and our nation's economy was in a deep 
recession. He made sure that his workers were treated fairly during 
these difficult times.
  As the son of a lifelong iron worker, I am a strong supporter of a 
worker's right to engage in collective bargaining through membership in 
labor unions. I have, and will continue to assist them in achieving 
common goals such as fair wages, safe workplaces and enhanced job 
opportunities.
  I ask my colleagues to join with me in congratulating Ron 
Gettelfinger and wishing him all the best in his retirement.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincere 
appreciation of the enormous contributions that Ron Gettelfinger has 
made to our nation and to the labor movement as President of the United 
Auto Workers

[[Page H4743]]

(UAW). Thank you, Ron, for your unmatched record, and your superb 
service as an effective labor leader.
  As a result of your tireless and dedicated leadership, you succeeded 
in making our vital domestic auto industry able to compete in the 
global auto marketplace. Your vision to secure a sound future for the 
auto industry was not limited to just your membership; your skilled 
efforts also benefitted our steelworkers on the Iron Range in Minnesota 
who work in the taconite mines to produce the ore for our domestic 
steel industry. I am profoundly grateful for your contributions that 
will never be forgotten, and your quote ``We did what we had to do to 
get to tomorrow'' is a testament to your lasting legacy of leadership.
  I hope your retirement is filled with many years of continued growth 
and good health, and that you never cease to share your ability to lead 
and inspire. I know that you will continue to apply your trademark 
dedication and energy to all your endeavors in the future.
  It is indeed a pleasure to send my very best wishes to a man who has 
touched the lives of so many people in as many ways as you have.
  Congratulations, Ron, on your retirement and your extraordinary work 
for working men and women.
  Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in 
paying tribute to a great man much beloved around the country, 
including in my home state of Wisconsin: I speak of Ron Gettelfinger.
  Anyone who has ever needed a friend knows the difference between the 
fair-weather friend and the friend who stands by you in your time of 
need. Ron Gettelfinger has stood by his UAW brothers and sisters in 
their time of need.
  When my constituents talk about Ron, they talk about him as a fighter 
for working men and women. Over the past 8 years, while he served as 
the president of the United Auto Workers, Ron saw the auto industry 
challenged as never before. He saw its workers beaten down.
  Hundreds of my constituents lost their jobs when the GM plant in 
Janesville, Wisconsin closed down. Ron and the UAW stood by those 
workers, providing them with support, assistance and advocacy to bridge 
the gap to new employment.
  But Ron didn't just stand by the workers without jobs--he knew 
something needed to be done to stop the bleeding and help save the auto 
industry. So he did the unpopular thing, and helped renegotiate General 
Motors contract with the auto workers. It was such a difficult decision 
in a difficult time--but we are beginning to see the positive results 
from it now. The auto industry seems to be turning around.
  As president of the UAW, Ron has been a champion for all American 
workers. He has worked tirelessly for labor protections in fair trade 
agreements, accessible and affordable health care for all, and 
protection of American jobs through investments in advance technology 
vehicles.
  So my gratitude and my admiration go to Ron, on behalf of the 
thousands of Wisconsinites he represented so bravely and ably for the 
past 8 years.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my good 
friend, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell) in recognizing Mr. 
Ronald A. Gettelfinger on his well-deserved retirement.
  A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to be with Mr. Gettelfinger 
and the UAW members to celebrate their 75th anniversary. They have been 
stalwart partners in the movement for civil rights and social change. 
It was truly a homecoming, and I was proud to be with Ron during one of 
his last official acts as UAW president.
  For nearly half a century, Mr. Gettelfinger has dedicated himself to 
the rights of American auto workers. Ron began his career as chassis 
line repairman in 1964. When his colleagues at Ford's Louisville 
Assembly plant elected him as their committeeperson, bargaining chair, 
and president, he rose to the challenge and went on to serve in various 
leadership positions for the United Auto Workers (UAW) membership for 
the next 26 years.
  During his tireless years as a UAW leader, Mr. Gettelfinger 
constantly recommitted himself to the values that were so important 
to--as he would say--my ``sisters and brothers''. Through trials and 
tribulation, the UAW has defended human dignity in the auto industry 
and been a strong ally in the struggle for social justice both in the 
United States and around the world. Mr. Gettelfinger embodied these 
values and was a constant, vocal advocate for health care, workers' 
rights, and trade policy reforms. I thank him for his service and for 
his commitment to the forgotten, the underserved, and the backbone of 
our global economy--America's workers.
  Again, let me congratulate Ron, his wife Judy, and their family on 
this momentous occasion and exciting new chapter in their life. Mr. 
Speaker, Mr. Dingell, as you know, his leadership will be missed, but 
never forgotten.
  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the achievements of 
Mr. Ron Gettelfinger, President of the United Auto Workers, and to 
thank him for his unwavering commitment to the American worker. His 
retirement is surely a bittersweet moment for us all. Through his eight 
years as President of UAW, Mr. Gettelfinger navigated some of the most 
difficult and trying times that the labor movement has faced in recent 
history. During the economic downturn and with countless jobs moving 
overseas, his steadfast leadership has helped restore faith in our auto 
industry and has helped workers feel secure during this period of great 
instability and change. I am deeply moved by Mr. Gettelfinger's 
unwavering resolve in his fight for labor protections, accessible and 
affordable health care for all, and his push for keeping manufacturing 
jobs in the United States.
  I speak today on behalf of the Illinois members of the UAW in 
thanking Mr. Gettelfinger for all of his work. Workers throughout 
Illinois have played a large role in supplying our automakers and are 
one small part in a much larger supply chain. Because of this 
connection, the UAW itself has deep roots in Illinois, and Mr. 
Gettelfinger's work has touched countless Illinois families. I would 
like to thank Mr. Gettelfinger for his efforts to make life better for 
workers across my home state of Illinois and across the United States. 
The people of Illinois will not soon forget what Mr. Gettelfinger has 
accomplished for them.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with pride and admiration that I offer my thanks 
and recognition to Mr. Ron Gettelfinger for his service to the UAW and 
to our nation.
  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ron Gettelfinger 
for his leadership at the United Auto Workers, UAW, and to congratulate 
him on his retirement after a lifelong dedication to the auto industry. 
He is a former chassis line repairman at a Ford factory in Indiana and 
a former director of UAW Region 3 which represents Indiana and 
Kentucky. A member of the UAW Local 862 since 1964, Mr. Gettelfinger 
was the right man to lead the UAW during the worst economic downturn in 
recent years for the automobile industry and our country. He is proof 
that optimism and dedication during tough times can yield positive 
results.
  Ron Gettelfinger was first elected president of the UAW at the 33rd 
Constitutional Convention in 2002 and re-elected to a second term in 
2006. During the economic downturn of 2006 and 2007, he had to make 
tough and sometimes unpopular decisions to ultimately save America's 
Big Three auto companies. He reached agreements to provide buyouts and 
other retirement incentives for tens of thousands of workers, forfeited 
holiday pay and bonuses, and applied overtime pay only to work weeks 
exceeding 40 hours as opposed to work days exceeding 8 hours.
  In a continued effort to save the auto industry and foreseeing the 
effect of globalization on manufacturing wages, Mr. Gettelfinger agreed 
to job layoffs and contract concessions that would make it easier for 
the Big Three to secure the help they needed. In 2008 and 2009, he made 
the tough decision to end lifetime job guarantees, traditional pension 
plans and carefree retiree health insurance plans. He also agreed to 
end the UAW's job bank program which allowed laid-off workers to 
continue collecting almost full pay--a program that was often seen as 
paying workers for not working. As a result of these and other measures 
taken to address the effects on wages, a study by the Center for 
Automotive Research concluded that the Detroit Three will achieve 
``labor cost superiority'' by 2015 and will hire thousands of new 
workers.
  Ron Gettelfinger worked tirelessly on behalf of automobile 
manufacturing workers and felt a sense of responsibility to them and 
the country as a whole. He advocated for incentives to manufacture 
energy-saving advanced technology vehicles and their key components in 
the United States. He fought for fair trade agreements that included 
provisions for workers' rights and environmental protections. He was 
also critical of ``race to the bottom'' practices whereby corporations 
sought to maximize profits by paying the lowest wages possible.
  Mr. Gettelfinger was a supporter of accessible and affordable health 
care for every man, woman, and child here in America. In order to save 
the financial books of GM and Chrysler and still provide pensioners' 
health care coverage, UAW assumed the health care cost through a trust 
known as Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Associations, VEBA.
  While in my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, Ron Gettelfinger spoke at 
the conservative Economic Club of Memphis in early 2009. He was 
introduced by his cousin, Mr. Tom Gettelfinger--a practicing 
ophthalmologist in Memphis. Ron Gettelfinger acknowledged the important 
role shared by the auto industry and Tennessee, which ranks 9th in the 
United States in terms of auto industry employment with an annual $2.8 
billion payroll. While in the

[[Page H4744]]

lion's den, Mr. Gettelfinger spoke on U.S. banks and investment firms 
as the foundation of the global system and the disarray they were in. 
He spoke on the need for the government to jump-start the economy and 
to address the thousands of Americans loosing their jobs and their 
homes to foreclosures. Mr. Gettelfinger told attendees that President 
Obama and Congress did the right thing by passing the economic stimulus 
package and that the plan would put money back into the hands of the 
American people and would energize the lagging economy. We are seeing 
all of these things come to fruition today.
  Ron Gettelfinger pulled our automobile manufacturing industry from 
the brink of devastation and saved hundreds of thousands of jobs. By 
saving the Detroit Three, Mr. Gettelfinger played a pivotal role in 
keeping the American economy away from total disaster. Mr. Speaker, I 
ask all of my colleagues to join me today in wishing Ron Gettelfinger 
the best and congratulating him on his retirement from the United Auto 
Workers.
  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a hero of the 
American workforce: Ron Gettelfinger. For the past eight years Mr. 
Gettelfinger has dedicated himself to fighting for our Nation's auto 
workers as president of the UAW. Many of the fights that Mr. 
Gettelfinger undertook helped not only his constituency but Americans 
as a whole.
  Mr. Gettelfinger's priorities are not unique to the UAW but are 
shared by many members of this body, myself included. Whether fighting 
for single-payer healthcare, labor protections, or investment in 
America's industry Mr. Gettelfinger had made it his life's work to 
advocate for the American worker.
  I am proud to rise today to honor a fine man on the occasion of his 
retirement and commend him for the excellent work he's done. Mr. 
Speaker, it is because of individuals like Ron Gettelfinger that our 
workforce functions as well as it does.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join our 
distinguished Dean of the House, Representative John Dingell, to honor 
Ron Gettelfinger for his years of service to the United Auto Workers 
(UAW). Ron recently announced that he will retire after serving as 
President since 2002, and a lifelong commitment of service to the 
organization. As President, he worked closely over the years with my 
regional UAW Directors, outgoing Director Bob Madore and his 
predecessor Phil Wheeler, on issues important to Connecticut. Ron 
presided during a time of economic difficulty and a historic health 
reform debate, and did so with great poise and a never subsiding 
commitment to the men and women he represented. I once again commend 
him on his years of service and join with my colleagues in saluting 
him.
  Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to honor Mr. Ron 
Gettelfinger, a lifelong champion of the American labor movement and 
President of the United Auto Workers Union, on his retirement after 
forty-five years of dedicated service. As a Member of Congress it is 
both my privilege and honor to recognize President Gettelfinger for his 
many years of service and his contributions which have enriched and 
strengthened our country, the State of Michigan, and Oakland County.
  In his career, President Gettelfinger has been a tireless advocate 
for working families and workers' rights. In 1964, he was hired at 
Ford's Louisville Assembly plant as a chassis line repairman and a 
member of UAW Local 862. As a member of UAW Local 862, he was elected 
to serve as a committeeperson, bargaining chair and eventually 
president. In 1992, he was elected as the director of UAW Region 3, 
representing members in Indiana and Kentucky and served in that role 
for six years. In 1998, he was elected as a UAW National Vice President 
under then UAW President Steven Yokich. In 2002, Mr. Gettelfinger was 
elected as President of the UAW International Union, the position he 
has held until his retirement.
  The American auto industry has faced unprecedented challenges in 
recent years. During this time, President Gettelfinger has provided 
steadfast, thoughtful, and effective leadership. During his tenure, the 
American auto companies have faced their greatest challenges since the 
Great Depression. Following the economic downturn of September 2008, in 
which irresponsible decisions on Wall Street created an economic crisis 
for businesses and families across the United States, President 
Gettelfinger's bold action and leadership was critical in securing the 
future of the American auto industry. He was instrumental in the 
forging of a set of sustainable contracts, which have allowed the 
American automakers to remain globally competitive. President 
Gettelfinger's leadership has saved hundreds of thousands of American 
jobs, while upholding the ideals and standards of a hard day's work for 
a fair day's pay.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today to honor President 
Ron Gettelfinger for his many contributions to our community and his 
leadership at the United Auto Workers Union. I wish him many more years 
of health, happiness, and productive service.
  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize retiring United Auto 
workers President Ron Gettelfinger. Mr. Gettelfinger has dedicated his 
career to advancing the interests of working people around our country 
and the world. He has worked for safer and more equitable workplaces 
and to make the idea that hard work should translate into a good wage 
and a stable job a reality. His work has also directly benefited my 
district.
  The UAW has represented nearly 5,000 autoworkers at the NUMMI plant 
in Fremont, California for nearly 30 years. With the UAW's 
representation, these workers were able to earn a good wage and 
benefits that allowed them to build solid middle class lives. In turn, 
they built some of the best cars in the world and won numerous awards 
for quality and craftsmanship.
  Unfortunately, the NUMMI plant ceased production in April. Mr. 
Gettelfinger and the UAW worked tirelessly to keep the plant open. 
Since the closure, I've worked with Mr. Gettelfinger to secure job 
training and Trade Adjustment Assistance for the many workers who have 
lost their jobs. Recently, Tesla Motors purchased the NUMMI factory and 
they will be building electric cars there. I will keep working with the 
UAW and incoming President Bob King to ensure that the UAW is 
recognized and former NUMMI workers are hired to fill the new jobs.
  It has been a pleasure to work with Mr. Gettelfinger. On behalf of 
the thousands of my constituents that have benefited from his service, 
I say ``thank you.''
  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ron Gettelfinger who 
recently retired as President of the United Auto Workers. Ron has been 
President of UAW since 2002, though his ardent support for the American 
worker extends back to his days as a rank and file UAW member and 
chassis line repairman at Ford's Louisville plant.
  Ron led his members through one of the most devastating economic 
downturns since the Great Depression. He should be particularly lauded 
for his efforts to fight for those employees in the auto industry who 
have lost their jobs in recent years. He worked tirelessly to secure 
opportunities for and ensure the fair treatment of his members during 
this time and I thank him for those efforts.
  Ron has also been a staunch advocate for expansive and affordable 
health care in this country. He should be proud of his role in 
supporting and passing the expansion of SCHIP in 2009 and the historic 
health care reform package passed earlier this year. When I led the 
effort in the House of Representatives to oppose the excise tax on 
health care plans, I was proud to have Ron and his members working side 
by side with me to protect the benefits of working families in our 
country.
  In my state of Connecticut, I have worked closely with the men and 
women of the UAW. Whether they are the men and women who work at 
Foxwoods casino or those helping design the next generation of 
submarines at Electric Boat in Groton, UAW members are among the 
hardest working individuals in our country.
  I commend Ron for his service to improve the quality of life for so 
many American working families and I ask my colleagues to join me in 
thanking Ron for his work and wishing him a happy retirement.

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