[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 159 (Tuesday, December 11, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1900]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN HONOR OF MR. LOREE SOGGS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 11, 2012

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Mr. Loree Soggs 
and his countless contributions to the labor communities of both the 
City of Cleveland and State of Ohio. Mr. Soggs has been an active 
member of and staunch advocate for unions and union members since he 
entered the workforce nearly fifty years ago.
   Mr. Soggs began his affiliation with the labor community in 1964 as 
an operating engineer. As a member of the International Union of 
Operating Engineers (IUOE), Local 18, he served as a business agent, 
apprenticeship coordinator, steward director, officer and fringe 
benefit fund trustee. In 1994, Mr. Soggs was elected to the office of 
Executive Secretary for Cleveland's Building and Construction Trades 
Council (CBCTD), being the first operating engineer to hold this office 
in the Council's history. In his capacity as president, Mr. Soggs has 
successfully negotiated numerous contracts fighting for the betterment 
of working men and women within the community.
   In addition to his dedicated work with IOUE Local 18 and the CBCTD, 
Mr. Soggs has also affiliated himself with numerous labor organizations 
and programs throughout Northeast Ohio and the State of Ohio. He has 
served as President of the North Shore Federation of Labor; Vice 
President of the Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council; 
Trustee of the Union Construction Industry Partnership; Chairman of the 
Union Construction Industry Partnership/Apprenticeship Skills 
Achievement Program; Executive Director of the Northern Ohio Building 
Trades Real Estate Investment Program; Vice President of the United 
Labor Agency; President of Pinzone Towers; Vice President of Lupica 
Towers; and Co-Chair to the Labor Initiative of United Way of Greater 
Cleveland. He is also a member of the Cuyahoga County/City of Cleveland 
Workforce Investment Board; Executive Committee of the Cleveland 
Catholic Diocese Building Commission; Executive Committee of the 
Cuyahoga Democratic Party; board member of the Ohio Water Development 
Authority; and member of Mayor Jackson's Sustainability Cabinet.
   Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor of Mr. Loree 
Soggs who has dedicated his life and career to the labor communities of 
Ohio.

                          ____________________