[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 14, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E587]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THE LIFE OF JACQUIE JONES-WALSH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ADAM SMITH

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 14, 2019

  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life and 
legacy of Jacquie Jones-Walsh, whose work combating injustice in the 
workplace has improved the lives of an unmeasurable amount of people in 
Washington State.
  Ms. Jones-Walsh tirelessly worked with, and in many cases led, a 
number of organizations with the singular purpose of supporting the 
rights of all workers. Ms. Jones-Walsh fought to eliminate the barriers 
that people of color and women so often face. She served tirelessly as 
a leader representing several organizations. Ms. Jones-Walsh was the 
second Vice President of the Seattle King County Chapter of the 
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), 
State President for the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), Vice 
President of the Washington State Labor Council, President of the 
Seattle Blacks in Government (BIG) Chapter, a founding member of the 
Seattle MLK Jr. Organizing Coalition, and served several terms as 
President of the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) Local 
843, to name a few.
  A long-time advocate for expanding and protecting affirmative action, 
Ms. Jones-Walsh played an active part in a recent campaign to approve 
Initiative 1000. This Washington state initiative lifts a ban on 
affirmative action in education, employment and contracting and extends 
it to include women, veterans, people with disabilities, and all people 
of color. Her advocacy on this and countless other projects will be 
missed.
  I have personally worked with Ms. Jones-Walsh several times. Each 
time I've had the pleasure of meeting with her, she exhibited the 
passion, diligence and intelligence that her groundbreaking causes 
deserved. It was these qualities and her devotion to the community that 
made her such a staple in Washington State.
  Madam Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize the life of 
Jacquie Jones-Walsh, whose leadership in the labor community has been 
an inspiration for many people. Her dedication and commitment to 
fighting for equality will live on through her legacy, and she will be 
greatly missed.

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