[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 16, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E506]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    BOB BALGENORTH, STATE BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL OF 
                  CALIFORNIA SPIRIT OF THE YEAR AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 16, 2011

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a very dedicated, 
committed leader of the labor movement in our state who deserves to be 
recognized for his many achievements and contributions to organized 
labor.
  Since being awarded the title of ``Apprentice of the Year'' by the 
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 441 in 1969, Bob 
Balgenorth has dedicated his life to protecting the rights of workers 
in California's construction industry.
  After being elected business manager/financial secretary of his local 
union and head of the Orange County Building Trades Council, Balgenorth 
has spent the past 18 years as president of the State Building & 
Construction Trades Council of California, which represents the 186 
private-sector building trades local unions and regional councils that 
represent 350,000 men and women employed in the state's construction 
industry.
  As president of the council, President Balgenorth has helped forge a 
partnership between two historically opposed movements: the 
construction industry and environmentalists. While advocating on behalf 
of construction workers throughout the state, he's also served on the 
boards of environmental organizations such as the California Apollo 
Alliance, California Unions for Reliable Energy, the California League 
of Conservation Voters, and the California Foundation on the 
Environment and the Economy.
  With leaders such as President Balgenorth pressing to develop 
relationships with non-traditional allies, the Labor Movement is 
positioned to build a broad coalition of support for workers rights.
  It gives me a great honor Mr. Speaker, because of President 
Balgenorth's career-long commitment to building solidarity between 
interests which have traditionally been opposed, I join with the 
Executive Board of the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council in 
honoring him with the 2010-2011, ``Spirit of Solidarity Award.''

                          ____________________