[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 142 (Tuesday, September 20, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        HONORING BOB BROWNSTEIN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 20, 2016

  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Bob Brownstein. I 
am joined by my colleagues Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and Congresswoman 
Anna Eshoo. Bob is retiring from his 17-year career as Policy Director 
of Working Partnerships USA, but his dedication and service to working 
families in the Bay Area has spanned over 40 years. His commitment to 
creating a better, more just future for Silicon Valley makes him a 
hallmark of leadership in our community.
   A native of the Bronx, Bob grew up admiring the towering photograph 
of President Franklin D. Roosevelt that hung in his father's hardware 
store. To the young boy and his father, President Roosevelt represented 
a higher echelon of politician and public servant--one who devoted his 
career to empowering the underprivileged and the underserved. It was in 
the manner and legacy of President Roosevelt that Bob embarked on his 
own career in public service, driven by his steadfast faith in and 
vision of societal progress.
   Bob Brownstein entered the California political scene in 1977, and 
his impact was immediately felt across the region. He changed local 
government and city politics as he led efforts to elect San Jose 
officials by district, giving greater representation for residents in 
City Hall. Later, he was instrumental in establishing the partnership 
between the city and San Jose State University to build the Martin 
Luther King Library.
   Bob, a lifelong advocate for workers, was the driving force behind 
the 1998 movement for living wages. He led two campaigns to raise the 
minimum wage and worked closely to reform San Jose's rent control laws. 
He played a significant role in passing the Living Wage ordinance, 
which raised San Jose's living wage to what was then the highest in the 
nation while still creating an infrastructure for job growth. Most 
recently, Bob led an initiative to ensure part-time workers receive 
fair consideration for increased work hours.
   As the Director of Policy and Research with Working Partnerships 
USA, Bob not only fought for the rights and agenda of the 
disenfranchised, but has become one of the most prominent voices in 
health care policy. He was the architect of Children's Health 
Initiative, making Santa Clara County the first in the country to 
provide health coverage to nearly every child. He has been the catalyst 
for profound reinvention in our community, bringing both tangible and 
institutional change--a rich legacy that will continue to impact lives 
for generations.
   Mr. Speaker, I commend Mr. Bob Brownstein for his years of 
dedication and commitment to our community both as an advocate for 
progressive values and as an outstanding public servant. His relentless 
pursuit to empower those in need will forever be remembered and 
appreciated by the many lives he has touched and will continue to 
influence.

                          ____________________