[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 203 (Wednesday, December 2, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1079-E1080]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE CAREER OF MONICA RUSSO

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 2, 2020

  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that 
I rise to recognize the remarkable career of Monica Russo.
  After decades of service, Ms. Russo is retiring as Executive Vice 
President of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East--the largest local 
union in the nation representing more than 400,000 healthcare workers 
in five states and more than 25,000 healthcare workers in Florida.
  Ms. Russo is recognized for having led the most successful private 
sector healthcare union organizing campaign in the southeastern United 
States, now known as 1199SEIU Florida. Under her leadership, 1199SEIU 
Florida has grown to represent more than 35,000 healthcare workers and 
retirees in more than 100 hospitals and nursing homes across the 
state--becoming the largest union of healthcare workers in Florida and 
the southern United States.
  She also serves as International Vice President of the Service 
Employees International Union and as President of the SEIU Florida 
State Council, where she politically unites more than 55,000 active and 
retired SEIU members from bus drivers and janitors to healthcare 
workers.
  Through Monica Russo's leadership, 1199SEIU Florida members are the 
go-to base to ``make things happen.'' Her emphasis on multi-cultural 
leadership development and grassroots, member-driven organization 
building has given a voice and power to healthcare workers, women, 
immigrants, working-class, professionals and low-wage workers.
  From raising quality standards for 80,000 elderly residents in 
Florida's nursing homes to

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passing cutting-edge legislation which increased the state minimum wage 
for millions of workers, Monica has dedicated her life's work to 
protecting voter rights, mobilizing some of the largest civil rights 
protests in Florida's history, reducing class sizes in Florida's 
schools, advocating for immigrants' rights, implementing safe staffing 
levels in Florida's nursing homes and led the charge to institute the 
state's first early voting process so working people can make their 
votes count.
  Her commitment to building new leaders and developing a legacy of 
partnership and collaboration in Florida has helped build an 
influential grassroots political base. She was the first labor leader 
to serve as a commissioner on Florida's Commission for Women and was 
named the Top 40 Most Powerful Democrats by Politics Magazine in 2009.
  Ms. Russo has served on the South Florida Workforce Investment Board, 
Florida International University's Research Institute for Social and 
Economic Policy and has worked closely with me as a trusted and valued 
advisor to my Healthcare Working Group.
  The daughter of Lincoln University professors, Monica grew up in 
rural Pennsylvania and speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and 
Haitian Kreyol. She graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown 
University and lives in Miami with her daughter, Giovanna.
  Monica Russo's commitment to our nation's working families is 
exemplary, and I am proud to call her my sister and dear and treasured 
friend. I will miss her guidance and wisdom, but our loss is her 
family's gain. I wish her a hearty congratulations on her retirement 
and am grateful for her invaluable work.

                          ____________________