[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 100 (Wednesday, June 30, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1241]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING RON GETTELFINGER FOR HIS LEADERSHIP OF THE UAW

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. DEBORAH L. HALVORSON

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 23, 2010

  Mrs. HALVORSON. Mr. Speaker, I wish to join my colleagues in 
congratulating Ron Gettelfinger upon his retirement. Ron has been a 
true champion for American families, a leading advocate for American 
workers, and a dedicated president of the United Auto Workers.
  I came to Congress to work on jumpstarting our economy and I'm 
reassured to know that under Ron's leadership, the UAW has been a 
steadfast voice for protecting American jobs and the rights of the 
hundreds of workers in my district. Prior to coming to Congress, I 
served in the Illinois State Senate and was proud to represent the hard 
working men and women, members of UAW Local 588, who work at the Ford 
Stamping Plant in Chicago Heights, Illinois. I'm now proud to represent 
members of UAW Local 2488, who work at the Mitsubishi Plant in 
Bloomington, Illinois. It has been an honor to represent all of these 
working families.
  Ron's vision that our country's success is rooted in everyday working 
men and women is something many of us share and we are lucky to have 
had such a passionate advocate for this cause over the past eight 
years. It is this belief that has protected and advanced the rights of 
the American worker during Ron's tenure as UAW President. On behalf of 
the 11th Congressional District of Illinois, I thank Ron for his 
service and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.

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