[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 113 (Thursday, July 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       LORENA GONZALEZ HONORED AS 2010 LABOR LEADER OF THE YEAR!

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                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 29, 2010

  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a very hard 
worker and devout labor leader in southern California.
  Lorena Gonzalez will be honored as the 2010 Labor Leader of the Year 
at the 28th Annual John S. Lyons Memorial Banquet in San Diego on 
September 11, 2010.
  In January of 2008, Lorena Gonzalez became the secretary-treasurer 
and CEO for the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO. 
The Labor Council is a coalition of 129 local unions that represent 
more than 192,000 working families in the region. Upon her election, 
Lorena became the first woman and first person of color to serve as 
head of the Labor Council since the organization's inception in 1902.
  The daughter of an immigrant farm worker and a nurse, Lorena learned 
the value of hard work and determination at an early age. After 
graduating from Vista High School in North San Diego County, she earned 
a bachelor's degree from Stanford University, a Master's degree from 
Georgetown University and a law degree from UCLA.
  Prior to coming to the Labor Council, Lorena worked as the Senior 
Advisor to the office of the Lieutenant Governor of California. She 
served as a consultant to the Commission on Economic Development, and 
was the Lt. Governor's principal advisor on policy issues dealing with 
labor, the environment, energy, and infrastructure.
  A member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 36, 
Lorena worked as the Labor Council's Political Director before being 
elected Secretary-Treasurer. She currently serves on the Board of 
Directors for the California League of Conservation Voters San Diego, 
the Center for Policy Initiatives, the Environmental Health Coalition, 
and the United Way of San Diego. Lorena also serves on the Executive 
Council of the state California Labor Federation as a Vice President 
and on the AFL-CIO Central Labor Council/California Federation's 
Advisory Board.
  Nonetheless, Lorena's most cherished title is that of mother. She 
lives in Pacific Beach with her two children--Tierra and Antonio.

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