[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E329]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    COMMENDING LONNIE STEPHENSON ON HIS RETIREMENT AS INTERNATIONAL 
    PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DONALD NORCROSS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 19, 2023

  Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as an electrician and proud 
union member to congratulate Lonnie Stephenson, International 
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) International President, on 
his retirement and commend him on his lifelong leadership advocating 
for workers.
  The son of two factory workers from Illinois, Lonnie chose to join an 
apprenticeship program with Rock Island Local 145. Starting his career 
as an electrician in 1975, he had a front row seat to the challenges 
facing workers in the industrial Midwest. Through his advocacy for 
hardworking people, Lonnie's leadership potential was quickly 
recognized, and he rose through the ranks of the local's leadership, 
winning election as vice president in 1984 and serving as president and 
assistant business manager before taking over as business manager in 
1991.
  In 2002, Lonnie was appointed international representative assigned 
to the Sixth District, and in 2010 he became Sixth District 
International Vice President. During his tenure, Lonnie led the fight 
against the passage of right-to-work laws across the Midwest, making 
sure workers' voices were heard.
  In 2015, Lonnie was elected international president of the IBEW. He 
led the union through unprecedented challenges, including a Supreme 
Court imposed right-to-work laws on the entire public sector workforce 
in 2018. And in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered construction 
sites, offices, factories, schools, and more. Despite it all, IBEW 
continued to grow steadily under Lonnie's outstanding leadership.
  As Lonnie steps down, the IBEW counts more ``A'' members than at any 
time in its history. The IBEW Strong Program has established a 
membership that looks more and more like the communities its members 
serve. He built the closest and most productive relationship between a 
union and the White House in more than half a century. And he worked 
alongside congressional leadership to pass and then implement laws to 
improve worker safety, increase wages, create millions of jobs and make 
more things here in America.
  After nearly 50 years, Lonnie Stephenson leaves a stronger, more 
diverse, more powerful, and more optimistic IBEW. I wish him the best 
as he begins this new chapter.

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