[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 46 (Thursday, March 14, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E310]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RETIREMENT OF ROBERT SEWELL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MARK DeSAULNIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 14, 2019

  Mr. DeSAULNIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service 
of a longtime area union leader, Mr. Robert Sewell, and to wish him 
well in his retirement.
  Bob is a second-generation plumber, and like his father before him, a 
proud union member. After beginning his career as an apprentice with 
Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 159 in 1979, Bob has remained a member 
for nearly 40 years, serving as an officer and a prominent member of 
union leadership.
  In 2002, Bob was elected as the union's Financial Secretary Treasurer 
and has served as its Business Manager since 2016. Among many other 
responsibilities, Bob led the Local in partnering with other regional 
unions to negotiate project labor agreements. Thousands of residential 
units in Contra Costa County benefited from his efforts to ensure that 
all workers earn a living wage and benefits.
  Bob has also been a leader in collaborating with community 
organizations to encourage environmental responsibility in development, 
and has promoted workforce training through his role as the chair of 
the Local's Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee.
  After a long career of fighting for working people, Bob is now 
retiring. Please join me in congratulating Mr. Robert Sewell for a life 
of hard work and service, and in wishing him luck in his next chapter.

                          ____________________