[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 56 (Friday, April 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN RECOGNITION OF ABRAHAM BREEHEY, 1976-2011

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 15, 2011

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, it is with deep sadness 
that I inform my colleagues that Abraham Breehey, Director of 
Legislative Affairs and Special Assistant to the International 
President of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, passed away 
yesterday, Thursday, April 14, 2011 at INOVA Fairfax Hospital, in Falls 
Church, Virginia, from complications related to a brain tumor and 
subsequent stroke.
  Abe, only 34 years old, was born in 1976 in Binghamton, New York. He 
is survived by his wife, Sonya and beloved young daughter, Abigail, his 
father Ray, his mother Carol, his sister Rachel, 3 nieces, a nephew 
and, of course, his dog Kesey.
  His death is a tragedy for his family and a loss for the working men 
and women of America on whose behalf he was so deeply committed.
  Abe received his Bachelor's Degree from Sienna College in 
Loudonville, NY and Master's Degree in Public Policy from the 
Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University of 
Albany. Prior to joining the Boilermakers in 2004, he served as 
Legislative Assistant for Representative Lloyd Doggett (TX-25).
  Abe was a leading voice in the labor movement, representing the 
Boilermakers on issues related to energy policy and climate change, and 
their impact on workers. He was widely respected for his passion, 
intellect, and ability to build consensus across ideological and 
political lines.
  Abe has testified in front of multiple U.S. Senate Committees and 
represented the Boilermakers in international negotiations regarding 
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
  Abe also advised the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades 
Department as Chairman of the Department's Legislative Task Force.
  And Abe is a graduate of the Trade Union Program at Harvard Law 
School.
  A staunch advocate on behalf of every Boilermaker member, Abe was a 
colleague and a friend to each of us.
  My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Breehey family. I hope 
they receive a small degree of comfort in knowing that Abe was so well 
liked and so well respected in his professional world.

                          ____________________