[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 50 (Thursday, March 21, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E271-E272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING DEBRA BOOTH AS A DISTINGUISHED LEADER IN CENTRAL FLORIDA FOR 
                         WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DARREN SOTO

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 21, 2024

  Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, Debra Booth was born in Birmingham, Alabama, 
and moved to Central Florida at age two. She began her career at AT&T, 
where she became involved with the Communications Workers of America 
union and quickly rose through the ranks to vice president of AT&T. 
Debra became involved with the Central Florida AFL-CIO, which 
represents labor unions in five counties with over 140,000 workers. The 
goals were to bring economic and social justice to the workers and 
community, resulting in a better quality of life for all.
  She ascended to the Office of President of the Central Florida AFL-
CIO and became the first woman to hold that position, which she held 
for 12 years. Her main responsibility was to serve the unions and 
coordinate all the political activities for the Central Florida area. 
This allowed her to interact with elected officials at the federal, 
state, and local levels while working on legislation such as a living 
wage ordinance, anti-discrimination policies, immigration, affordable 
housing, and local hire policies with Orlando venues.
  Debra was then hired by the International Brotherhood of Electrical 
Workers for a special organizing project to increase market share. The 
program was so successful in Florida that it now operates in almost 
every state.
  In 2009, she was appointed district director for Florida's Eighth 
Congressional District, representing Central Florida. In 2011, she 
opened a political consulting firm representing mostly elected 
officials in Central Florida. She assisted presidential campaigns with 
advance work and worked on numerous federal, state, and local campaigns 
resulting in Orange County becoming a Democratic county with a 
Democratic majority of elected officials.
  In 2017, she was appointed to serve as chief legislative aide to 
Senator Victor Torres and currently holds this position. Debra has 
served on numerous boards, including Harbor House Center for Domestic 
Violence and the executive committee for the Heart of Florida United 
Way.

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