[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 186 (Wednesday, November 20, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REMEMBERING ROBERT LaVENTURE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN GARAMENDI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 20, 2019

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory and 
service of Robert LaVenture, a committed organizer and unyielding 
advocate for workers, who devoted over 49 years of his life to fighting 
for the American worker in the labor movement.
  Robert first became involved in labor organizing after graduating 
high school when he began work at an International Harvester foundry in 
Waukesha. During his time in Waukesha, Robert's stalwart advocacy 
allowed him to proudly serve as trustee, local union steward, vice 
president and of Local 3740. His dedication was recognized by his peers 
and led him to be elected president of the union. As president, Robert 
helped to create the state of Wisconsin's first employee education 
center and later developed other centers throughout the state when he 
served as Wisconsin's AFL-CIO Coordinator.
  Robert embodied the greatest traits of a union organizer by devoting 
himself to building the labor movement and improving the lives of 
workers across the country. After serving as state coordinator for the 
AFL-CIO, Robert served as a United Steel Workers International Staff 
Representative in the San Francisco Bay Area and then in Oklahoma. In 
2009, recognizing Robert's tireless and effective work on behalf of 
United Steel Workers, he was made district director of District 12, 
coordinating USW work in Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, 
Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington. While serving as 
director, Robert used his decades of committed work to successfully 
negotiate countless contracts on behalf of steel workers across the 
western U.S.
  Robert's legacy is that of a tireless union organizer, devoting 
countless hours to fighting on behalf of American industry and workers 
in the U.S. and abroad. Robert's work will continue to help the lives 
of countless people and his spirit will be missed. Please join me in 
celebrating his life and his memory.

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