[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 156 (Friday, September 10, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E957-E958]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE CAREER AND RETIREMENT OF NIAGARA COUNTY LEGISLATOR 
                            DENNIS VIRTUOSO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 10, 2021

  Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Madam Speaker, today I rise in honor of 
Niagara County Legislator Dennis Virtuoso. Dennis is a dedicated public 
servant who is retiring after 30 years of service and 15 terms in the 
Niagara County Legislature.
  Dennis is one of just two members to serve three decades in the 
Niagara County Legislature. As a longtime Democratic Caucus leader, he 
spent much of his time in office serving in

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both majority and minority leadership. During the early 2000s. Dennis 
spent four years as Majority Leader and the last 16 years as Minority 
Leader.
  Throughout his tenure, Dennis vowed to keep the Niagara County 
Legislature transparent and honest. When he first ran for office, he 
promised that he would never vote for a property tax increase. Thirty 
years later. Dennis has kept this promise.
  Dennis sponsored several resolutions during his time on the Niagara 
County Legislature. Most notable was a resolution, that passed, 
allowing Niagara Country residents to speak before the Legislature; 
previous policy did not allow residents to have a voice. He also 
sponsored a resolution that put in place an Animal Abuse Registry that 
requires registration for anyone convicted of animal cruelty. The 
registry now serves as a model for the rest of New York State. 
Additionally, Dennis sponsored resolutions to reserve parking spaces 
for Purple Heart recipients.
  Of his many accomplishments, Dennis is most proud of his speech 
before Congress in the late 1970s. At the time, he was the president of 
United States Steel Workers of America Local 12256. Dennis's testimony 
led to immediate action by President Jimmy Carter ordering NIOSH and 
OSHA to help the 500 employees at the Hyde Park/Bloody Run Landfill in 
Niagara Falls who were suffering from cancer and blood-related diseases 
due to chemical exposure. The workers were able to obtain necessary 
medical testing and landfill was subsequently closed.
  While serving as County Legislator, Dennis also worked full-time as a 
Niagara Falls building inspector, eventually becoming the city's 
director of inspections. His true passion though, is working for the 
people of Niagara County.
  Dennis is the son of Carmella and the late Armand Virtuoso, a two-
time Purple Heart recipient and World War II veteran. He and his wife, 
Gina Virtuoso, have two sons and a daughter. Dennis is a Navy Seal, 
Vincent works at the Niagara Falls Water Plant, and Gina is a nurse.
  Dennis is passionate work over the past 30 years gave the people of 
Niagara County a voice in government. Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the 
opportunity to recognize Legislator Dennis Virtuoso's well-deserved 
retirement from the Niagara County Legislature. I ask my colleagues to 
join me in thanking Dennis for his leadership and service.

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