[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 3, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E594-E595]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN TRIBUTE TO SHEILA DIANNE COCHRAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 3, 2017

  Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sheila Dianne 
Cochran, Milwaukee Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer and 
Chief Operating Officer. She began service at the Council in March of 
2009 and officially retired on March 31, 2017.
  Ms. Cochran ran the largest Central Labor Council in Wisconsin. The 
Milwaukee Area Labor Council has about 110 affiliate Labor

[[Page E595]]

Unions and represents approximately 25,000 members. The council has two 
divisions; the Council and Field Mobilization Department. Sheila was 
responsible for supervising six staff, running the day-to-day operation 
with oversight of all records and managing the financial operation that 
included a budget of approximately $600,000 dollars. Further, under 
separate authority, the Milwaukee Area Labor Council houses The Labor 
Community @ Work a nonprofit, 501c3 charity organization that helps 
those in need. Some of the services provided under the auspices of The 
Labor Community @ Work include: operate food drives for Pathfinders, 
collect toiletries for the Health and Hygiene Drive for the Homeless, 
construction of ``little libraries'', cooks for the St. Ben's Community 
Meal grill out BBQ dinner, and provides funds for Laborfest and 
Wisconsin Election Protection. Sheila Cochran sits on the non-profit 
board The Labor Community @ Work as an at large member.
  Sheila was hired at Delphi /Delco/E&S in 1979; she began her work in 
the labor movement while employed there in 1989, when she was elected 
as Recording Secretary of UAW, Local 438. In 1999, she was elected to 
the then Milwaukee County Labor Council. The Milwaukee Area Labor 
Council was formed in 2008 when it merged the Milwaukee, Ozaukee and 
Washington County Labor Councils.
  Sheila has served on numerous boards, commissions, and councils over 
the years including: The Fair Lending Coalition, WTRP/BIG STEP Board; 
Member Milwaukee Area Technical College Board of Directors, National 
Board of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, Chair of Wisconsin 
Election Protection, and Elected Member United Way Board of Greater 
Milwaukee. In fact, she holds the position of the longest-serving 
member of the area United Way Board of Greater Milwaukee.
  I am grateful to have had the opportunity to know and work with 
Sheila for over 25 years. She has provided invaluable counsel and 
advice over the years. I am so pleased to be able to join with friends 
and colleagues at her retirement dinner celebration on May 19, 2017, 
where she has asked that all the proceeds from the dinner are to be 
donated to The Labor Community @ Work. I wish her much success as she 
transitions into a different phase of her life. Mr. Speaker, I am proud 
to honor Sheila and I am proud to call her friend. The citizens of the 
Fourth Congressional District and the State of Wisconsin are privileged 
to have someone of her ability and dedicated service working on their 
behalf for so many years. I am honored for these reasons to pay tribute 
to Sheila Cochran.

                          ____________________