[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 110 (Friday, June 23, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H3129]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE LIFE OF MIKE WILLIAMS

  (Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, with a heavy heart, I rise to 
honor the remarkable life of recently departed Florida AFL-CIO 
President Mike Williams.
  Starting as an apprentice, he became an electrician, working 
temporary service and construction jobs and living paycheck to 
paycheck, like so many workers do.
  Seeing the critical value of job protections and livable wages, he 
devoted his life to the labor movement, first as a rank-and-file member 
for 15 years before becoming business manager of his local, IBEW 177.
  Later, he became president of the Florida Building Trades Council, 
and in 2009, Mike was elected president of the Florida AFL-CIO, where 
he served distinctively until his death.
  A natural-born leader, Mike revitalized Florida labor by fostering 
new alliances with community, immigrant, and faith-based groups.
  Tall and with a contagious smile, he was a straight-shooter and 
always brought a worthy cause and compelling case for workers to the 
Capitol.
  Direct and trustworthy, he was a man of standards whose shoes will be 
hard to fill.
  Mike's empathy, dedication, and compassion will be sorely missed, but 
his legacy and impact must never be forgotten.
  I will miss my dear friend. May his memory be for a blessing.

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