[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 7, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E284]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL BALISTRIERE

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 7, 2017

  Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Michael ``Mike'' 
Balistriere who is retiring from Milwaukee Area Labor Council on March 
17, 2017. Mike is a labor leader, veteran, father and advocate.
  Mike Balistriere has been a proud union member since 1969 when he 
began his career at Evinrude Motors. Mike served in Vietnam as a United 
States Marine from 1969-1971 and returned to Evinrude after his 
service. He became an active member with the United Steelworkers (USW) 
Local 1302, while at Evinrude and was elected Chief Steward in 1974 and 
served on the bargaining committee for 15 years. As a member of USW 
Local 1302, Mike served on a variety of committees at the behest of his 
union.
  Mr. Balistriere was called upon by his International Union to help 
with the Firestone/Bridgestone strike as part of a statewide committee. 
The United Steelworkers won that hard fought fight benefiting the 
workers which led to the merger of the United Steelworkers and Rubber 
Workers. In 1997, Mike left Evinrude to assume the position of 
Community Service Liaison at the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and 
later for the Milwaukee Area Labor Council.
  In his position as Community Service Liaison, Mr. Balistriere has 
served as a member of the AFL-CIO Union Veterans Council, Co-Founder of 
the Veterans Community Relations Team, and Treasurer for the War 
Memorial Board. Further, he worked closely with the HIRE Center, 
Wisconsin Election Protection, and chaired the St. Bens Annual Cook Out 
for the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, United Way of Greater Milwaukee 
and Waukesha County for the past 10 years.
  Some of Mike's notable achievements include preventing the hostile 
takeover of the Milwaukee County War Memorial, moving the statue of 
General MacArthur to the lakefront, meeting with the Japanese, Korean, 
Australian, and the Philippines consulates in Chicago about the Gen. 
MacArthur Memorial Lakefront Event. One of Mike Balistriere's proudest 
moments was to lead the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance before 
President Barack Obama speeches at both the Bradley Center and 
Laborfest.
  I am grateful to have had the opportunity to know Mike Balistriere 
and work with him for many years on labor issues, veterans' issues and 
voting rights. I join with friends and his wife, Cindy and children 
Rebecca, Michael Jr., Sarah, and Nathan to congratulate him as he 
transitions into a different phase of his life.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Mike Balistriere and to call him 
friend. The citizens of the Fourth Congressional District and the State 
of Wisconsin are privileged to have someone of ability and dedicated 
service working on their behalf for so many years. I thank him for all 
that he has done. I am honored for these reasons to pay tribute to Mike 
Balistriere.

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