[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 137 (Thursday, September 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1641]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN HONOR OF MR. JAY WILLIAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 15, 2011

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Mr. Jay Williams, 
who has recently been appointed as the Department of Labor's Executive 
Director of the Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers by 
President Obama.
  Mr. Williams was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio. He attended 
Youngstown State University and studied finance. After graduating, he 
began working with banks around the Youngstown area. He continued 
working in the banking industry as an examiner for the Federal Reserve 
Bank of Cleveland.
  Upon leaving the financial industry, Mr. Williams became the director 
of Youngstown's Community Development Agency. He served as the leader 
of Youngstown 2010. This ongoing initiative plans for a Youngstown that 
is ``smaller, greener, cleaner, makes efficient use of its available 
resources, and capitalizes on its many cultural amenities and business 
advantages.''
  In 2005, Mr. Williams was elected as the Mayor of Youngstown. He was 
the first African American elected as Youngstown's mayor and was also 
the first independent candidate elected since 1922. Mr. Williams was 
re-elected in 2009. On July 6, 2011, President Obama announced Mr. 
Williams as the Executive Director of the Office of Recovery for Auto 
Communities and Workers; he began on August 8, 2011.
  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Mr. Jay 
Williams as he begins his tenure as the Executive Director of the 
Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers. I extend my 
congratulations and well wishes as he embarks on this new endeavor.

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