[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 129 (Tuesday, August 2, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E817]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        RECOGNIZING ART PULASKI

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ERIC SWALWELL-

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 2, 2022

  Mr. SWALWELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Art Pulaski, 
who is retiring after 26 years with the California Labor Federation, 
AFL-CIO, which represents over 2 million union members in 
manufacturing, transportation, construction, service and the public 
sector.
  Art has a long history with labor advocacy. He began his organizing 
career at age 16 when, as a supermarket clerk, he joined the 
Amalgamated Meat Cutters Union. After working his way through college 
and graduate school, he worked as a union organizer.
  Art most recently served as the Chief Officer, after serving as the 
Executive Secretary-Treasurer, where he built coalitions with union and 
community groups to protect workers and retirees. Under his leadership, 
the Federation has more than doubled in size and has had numerous 
legislative achievements. The Federation restored daily overtime pay, 
raised the minimum wage, and passed the nation's first Paid Family 
Leave law.
  In 2010, the Federation led a successful campaign to ensure that 
every California Democrat in Congress voted in favor of the Affordable 
Care Act. Furthermore, in 2003, Art led the creation of the Stand for 
California Coalition, a group of labor unions, religious organizations, 
civil rights groups and business interests, as well as helped to 
develop the Apollo Alliance, a national coalition for cleaner energy 
and better jobs.
  Art has also served on numerous gubernatorial panels and commissions 
on economic progress and workforce development. He was a founder of one 
of California's model childcare centers, called PalCare, and served as 
president of nationally televised PBS series ``We Do the Work'', the 
Labor Project for Working Families and the California Works Foundation.
  Art has spent his career protecting our community by advocating for 
workers, ensuring they are paid fairly, and improving workplace 
conditions. Art will be missed by the entire Federation but is looking 
forward to continuing his commitment to the labor community as a 
volunteer and spending time with his four children: Erin, Katie, Luke, 
and Kaleb, and his two grandchildren, Wilder and August.

                          ____________________