[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 10, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5106-H5107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             IN RECOGNITION OF THE RETIREMENT OF GEORGE NEE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Rhode Island (Mr. Amo) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. AMO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a dedicated 
champion for Rhode Island's working families, Mr. George Nee.
  Last week, George publicly announced his retirement as president of 
the Rhode Island AFL-CIO. On October 11, he will leave behind a 
towering legacy of over 50 years of fighting for workers.
  George has often said that there can be no democracy without a 
vibrant union movement. That is why he has dedicated his entire career 
to securing economic opportunity and advancing social justice.
  As George prepares to hand over the reins, I would like to honor his 
incredible story, rising from humble beginnings to become the face of 
organized labor in Rhode Island.
  George Nee found his calling at Boston College in the 1960s. After 
meeting farmworkers from California, he was inspired to make their 
cause his own. He was so inspired, in fact, that he dropped out of 
school as a 21-year-old to advocate for the cause full time.
  George's early jobs involved coordinating Boston's successful grape 
boycott and later a lettuce boycott in Rhode Island. Thanks to his 
efforts, farmworkers who spoke little to no English were able to secure 
better conditions and union contracts.
  He slept in church parishes, on office floors, and even in an 
abandoned building on Brown University's campus. It wasn't glamorous 
work, but George got the job done.
  His successful efforts introduced him to key players in the labor 
movement, including a soft-spoken man from Delano, Mr. Cesar Chavez. 
George was his driver and a bodyguard whenever he was in the area. In 
the mid-1970s, George joined Cesar and eight others in a pilgrimage 
across southern California. Their courageous campaign to organize 
farmworkers led to a tense standoff with growers armed with shotguns.
  That is textbook George Nee: Never one to shy away from what is right 
and never one to back down from a fight.
  After returning to Rhode Island, George helped to organize an 
independent union for jewelry, clerical, and healthcare workers. This 
organization became the Service Employees International Union, or SEIU, 
Local 1199. George served as its founding president from 1976 to 1983.

  Madam Speaker, I have a personal connection to Local 1199. It is the 
same union my mom proudly joined when she worked as a nurse in Rhode 
Island's nursing homes.
  In 1983, George was hired by our statewide AFL-CIO. From staff 
representative to executive director to secretary treasurer to his 15-
year run as president, George has become synonymous with the union. 
Thanks to his leadership, Rhode Island AFL-CIO and its affiliates are 
now more than 80,000 strong.
  Our State consistently ranks as having one of the highest rates of 
union membership. Despite changes in the economy and a varying degree 
of appeal to organized labor, though it is at its most popular right 
now, George has kept the faith. He has been tireless, relentless, 
devoted, and a champion for workers and their families.
  Above all, he has never lost sight of the ultimate goal, to make sure 
that working people have a seat at the table whenever decisions are 
being made. I saw this firsthand when I worked as an adviser in the 
Governor's office in Rhode Island several years ago. I will never 
forget the quintessential image of George at the Rhode Island State 
House. He was roaming the halls and making the case to legislators 
about the need for critical protections and critical investments.
  George's accomplishments are too many to name with the time that I 
have remaining, but suffice to say that his dedication to our State 
will stand the test of time.
  Madam Speaker, I conclude by quoting a portion of George's retirement 
letter. According to George, labor is ``the strongest countervailing 
force that stands up to the power of the business community with the 
goal of having a level playing field. We truly are the people's 
lobby.''
  Truly, the people's lobby is never a bad cause to be fighting for.
  For decades, George Nee has been a mentor and a friend, a colleague 
and an advocate, and a fighter for the working people of Rhode Island. 
He will no doubt be missed.
  On behalf of the hardworking men and women of the State of Rhode 
Island, I thank George.
  Madam Speaker, I include in the Record George Nee's resignation 
letter.


                                                     RIAFLCIO,

                                                September 3, 2024.
       Dear members of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO Executive Board 
     and Local Union Affiliates, I am writing to inform you that I 
     will be retiring as the President of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO 
     effective on October 11, 2024. I have been honored to serve 
     you and our membership at the Rhode Island AFL-CIO since 
     1983. I was employed as a Staff Representative in 1983. In 
     1985, i became the Executive Director. I was elected as your 
     Secretary-Treasurer in 1991, and i was elected as the 
     President in 2009. I would like to give a special thank you 
     to Ed McElroy who hired me in 1983. His faith in me will 
     always be appreciated.
       I appreciate the confidence and trust you have had in me 
     over these many years.

[[Page H5107]]

       Our organization has been, is now, and will be in the 
     future, a force for economic and social justice for all the 
     workers in our state. We are the strongest countervailing 
     force that stands up to the power of the business community 
     with the goal of having a level playing field. We are truly 
     the people's lobby. The legislation and issues tor which we 
     advocate improve the lives of all workers in our state.
       We believe that there can be no democracy unless there is a 
     vibrant free trade union movement. The way we have lived up 
     to that ideal in Rhode Island is our commitment to 
     participate in our democracy. We encourage union members to 
     run for political office at every level. We have a process to 
     endorse candidates based on labor issues. We mobilize voter 
     registration efforts. We engage our members in assisting in 
     our endorsed candidates' campaigns, and we hold elected 
     leaders accountable.
       Over the many years, we have adopted a perspective and 
     philosophy that organized labor has a right and 
     responsibility to exercise our voice when and where decisions 
     are made at every level of government. These decisions impact 
     the quality of life and economy of our state and we must be 
     there.
       Because of the commitment and dedication of the leaders and 
     members that came before us, Rhode Island has always been a 
     strong labor state. We achieve our maximum effectiveness when 
     we are pro-business, pro-growth, pro-labor and pro-union. 
     Because of your commitment and activity, it remains so today, 
     and I strongly believe that as our labor movement goes 
     forward with new leadership, it will be even stronger in the 
     future.
       We will continue to get stronger by organizing new members. 
     We will continue to be among the states with the highest 
     percentage of union members. We will continue to provide high 
     quality and innovative education and training programs 
     through our Institute for Labor Studies and Research. We will 
     continue to champion innovative programs like Climate Jobs RI 
     which enhance our image in the community and protect our 
     future.
       I am grateful and thankful that you have allowed me to be a 
     part of this movement that has brought justice, prosperity, 
     and hope to so many people.
           In Solidarity,
                                                    George H. Nee,
     President.

                          ____________________