[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 145 (Tuesday, August 10, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E889]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE HONORING THE WORK OF RAYNA LEHMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 10, 2021

  Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary 
work of Rayna Lehman, a champion of women and labor and a true patriot, 
who is retiring after serving with great distinction and effectiveness 
for 39 years as the community services director of the San Mateo County 
Labor Council. She will receive the well-deserved honor of the Cope 
Unity Award at the 41st Annual Cope Banquet to be held at the Hyatt 
Regency at San Francisco International Airport on August 13, 2021.
  Rayna was born in the Bronx, New York, to a working-class family. She 
was educated in public schools and was a day camp counselor, a 
salesperson, and a TSP telephone operator, before she came to 
California in 1970.
  The list of glass ceilings Rayna has broken began with the San Mateo 
County Union Community Alliance, and the list of the positions she has 
held that never had been held by a woman before is a long one. The 
honors she has earned include the San Mateo Labor Council Unity Award; 
PALCARE Outstanding Service Award; McCowan Takalo Anti-Hunger Advocacy 
Award; APALA Community Services Leadership Award; the UC Berkeley Labor 
Center Helping Hands Award; Menlo Park Hometown Hero; Senate District 
13 2021 Woman of the Year; the Hispanic Chamber Community Leader Award; 
and many more.
  She participated in the creation of PALCARE, was appointed to the San 
Mateo County Childcare Partnership Council, and represented Labor on 
the inaugural First Five Community Steering Committee. She created 
Health@Work and helped create the Community Health Reform Advisory 
Committee to introduce the Affordable Care Act to San Mateo County.
  As the community services director of the San Mateo County Central 
Labor Council, Rayna created the Union Hardship Fund, trained union 
counselors to assist local union members, and coordinated a partnership 
with Second Harvest Silicon Valley Food Bank to provide twice monthly 
food distributions that help more than 800 families. She's a member of 
Office and Professional Employees Local 29 and served as president of 
Painters Local 15 for nine years.
  Madam Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me 
in thanking Rayna Lehman for her extraordinary work and in 
congratulating her on being honored for her exceptional leadership as 
San Mateo County Central Labor Council's community services director. 
The blessings of her work have touched thousands of families, and we 
are a better, stronger county and country because of her.