[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 112 (Tuesday, June 27, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E621-E622]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING ART FRANCO AS A DISTINGUISHED LEADER IN CENTRAL FLORIDA FOR 
                        CARIBBEAN HERITAGE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DARREN SOTO

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 27, 2023

  Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, Art Franco was the first generation born in 
the United States. He is of Cuban descent. His family like many others 
came to the U.S. with nothing and built what they had through hard 
work. He will

[[Page E622]]

never forget where he came from. Art lost his mother in a tragic car 
accident at the age of 13. His father, grandmother, aunts, uncles, and 
cousins were all there for him. They gave him support, strength, 
guidance, knowledge, understanding, and unconditional love.
  Art remembers the struggles and sacrifices that were made by his 
family to have a better future. He is very grateful and appreciative of 
them. Art worked as a bouncer/bartender in his youth. He then started 
working in the electronics field not thinking it would last long, but 
he made a career out of it. He has grown and developed greatly. Art 
currently represents LCLAA (Labor Council for Latin American 
Advancement), UAW (United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural 
Implement Workers of America) Local 788, UAW Region 8, and the LGBTQ+ 
community by participating in events in the community. Art volunteered 
with LCLAA in the Osceola Housing Crisis Workshop with The Salvation 
Army. He also volunteers with the Central Florida Labor Council in the 
Citizenship Clinic helping members of the community become United 
States citizens. He does that in his family's memory to pay it forward 
and help others like his family obtain the American Dream. He also 
volunteers yearly for the Paralyzed Veterans Association Fishing 
Tournament. Art has gone to Tallahassee and Washington to lobby and 
fight for what's right. Never in his wildest dreams did he think he 
would be doing that and continues to fight the fight.
  Art has held leadership roles such as chairperson of his local union 
and Florida State CAP (Community Action Program) vice chair for UAW 
Region 8. Art is currently holding multiple roles such as vice 
chairperson of the Bargaining Committee of UAW Local 788, UAW Region 8 
Florida State CAP/PAC president, and he is a delegate of the Central 
Florida Labor Council and trustee on the Executive Board. Art has 
worked at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control as an inspector on 
the quality assurance side of the business since 2008. Art is a very 
passionate and proud individual. What he does he does from the heart. 
His family and the leadership roles he has had are what made him the 
man he is today.

                          ____________________