[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 56 (Friday, April 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E745]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING MR. ABRAHAM BREEHEY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 15, 2011

  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor 
the life of my friend Abraham Breehey, who passed away yesterday at the 
young age of 35.
  Abe was a champion for working men and women throughout his career. 
As Legislative Director for the International Brotherhood of 
Boilermakers, Abe was a leader among his colleagues representing the 
building and construction trades. He fought for labor and economic 
policies that would promote a fairer economy, and was an early leader 
in making the case that an energy policy to combat climate change would 
also be economically beneficial to those who, like boilermakers, are 
engaged in energy production.
  I got to know Abe before coming to Congress. We served together in 
Albany, where I was a Member of the New York State Assembly and Abe was 
a legislative aide to my Western New York colleague Sam Hoyt. We bonded 
over our shared love of music, and Abe gave me my first lessons on the 
guitar, a fact he never grew tired of reminding me about.
  Abe's life was tragically cut short, a victim of brain cancer. He 
leaves behind a wife and daughter. He had much more left to give the 
people he fought for, but he had already given so much. His advocacy 
will be missed by the labor movement, and his warm heart will be missed 
by his friends.
  For my part, I will honor Abe by drawing inspiration from his work on 
behalf of those working in the building trades, and by redoubling my 
commitment to support cancer research.
  Abe was a gentleman, a professional, an optimist and a good, kind 
friend. He is missed.

                          ____________________