[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 135 (Friday, September 19, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1471-E1472]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF JAMES STEM

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 18, 2014

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues Mr. Shuster, 
Mr. Rahall, and Mr. Denham to recognize Mr. James Stem to congratulate 
him as he celebrates 48 years of service to America's unions and 
railroads. James will be retiring as the national legislative director 
at the United Transportation Union (UTU). James' extraordinary career 
and service to our country deserve to be honored.
  James was born on June 19, 1948, in Raleigh, North Carolina. His 
career in the railroad industry started early at the age of 18 when he 
became a trainman for the Seaboard Air Line Railroad and a member of 
the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. James' interest in the union 
movement began early on in his career, and he quickly became active in 
Local 1129 in Raleigh.
  By 1973, James worked part-time as a special UTU organizer, and two 
years later, was elected to be the secretary-treasurer of the Local 
1129. He was also elected as a local chairperson and legislative 
representative. Because of his extensive background at the UTU, James 
served as delegate at five UTU international conventions from 1979 to 
1995.
  In 1984, James was elected as the North Carolina state legislative 
director. In 1998, with the necessary experience and knowledge, James 
was appointed the alternate national legislative director. He was then 
re-elected to that position at the UTU conventions in 1999, 2003, and 
2007, and since 2009, James has served as the national legislative 
director.
  Throughout his career, James held many positions including: trainman, 
switchman, hostler helper, hostler, fireman, and locomotive engineer. 
Additionally, he is a member of the original Positive Train Control 
Working Group

[[Page E1472]]

which is sponsored by the Federal Railroad Administration.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that Mr. Shuster, Mr. Rahall, 
Mr. Denham and I ask our colleagues in the U.S. House of 
Representatives to recognize Mr. James A. Stem. The contributions he 
made to the United Transportation Union and the railroad industry 
deserve to be commended.

                          ____________________