[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 24, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E762-E763]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING MITCHELL SMITH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LUCY McBATH

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 24, 2024

  Mrs. McBath. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to celebrate the career of 
Mitchell Smith and commend him for his many years of service in support 
of working families in this country and to the men and women of the 
United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 8.
  While working as a maintenance electrician at Ford Motor Company in 
1986, Mitchell Smith joined the UAW Local 882 in Atlanta, GA. Just one 
year later, he was elected a member of the skilled trades committee by 
his coworkers. For the next 12 years, he served on that committee and 
as a member of the unit bargaining committee. In further recognition of 
his capability and leadership, Local 882 elected him building 
chairperson from 2002 to 2005.
  In 2005, Smith was appointed by UAW President Ron Gettelfinger to the 
position of International representative assigned to Region 8, where he 
serviced local unions throughout the south. He then served as assistant 
director of the union's Transnational Department, aiding employees 
working at Japanese, South Korean, and German original equipment 
manufacturers and German parts suppliers in the United States. At the 
37th Constitutional Convention in June of 2018, he was elected director 
of UAW Region 8. For over five years, he served the entire Southeast 
with distinction, working on behalf of auto workers from Tennessee, 
Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, 
Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, the District of Columbia, 
Maryland, Delaware and the following counties in Pennsylvania: 
Franklin, Cumberland, Adams, and York.
  During his many decades of loyal membership and service to the UAW, 
Mitchell Smith

[[Page E763]]

demonstrated a strong commitment to the responsibilities of 
citizenship, being politically active and involved in various 
Democratic campaigns in Georgia. Outside of his work organizing, 
Mitchell and his wife Charmaine raised three children: Lacie, Tyler, 
and Emily. They are the proud grandparents of Hampton, Tobi, and Scout. 
A man of faith, Mitchell also serves as a lay pastor for Grace 
Community Fellowship Church.
  Through it all, Mitchell truly kept his focus on the membership. 
After a long and highly successful career fighting to improve working 
conditions and protect and expand the rights of American workers on the 
job, it is my distinct honor and privilege to join those who are 
celebrating the service and leadership of Mitchell Smith--a true 
champion of working families. Congratulations to Mitchell and I hope he 
keeps enjoying retirement.

                          ____________________