[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 119 (Thursday, July 10, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE LIFE OF JEFFREY RICHARD SOTH

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. BRIAN K. FITZPATRICK

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 10, 2025

  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to 
honor the life of a dear friend and a giant in the fight for America's 
workers: Jeff Soth.
  Jeff wasn't just a leader in labor, he was a force. As the 
Legislative and Political Director of the International Union of 
Operating Engineers, he stood at the helm of one of the most skilled 
and essential workforces in the world. From power plants and pipelines 
to roads, bridges, and cranes, the men and women Jeff represented built 
this country, and he fought for them with everything he had.
  Jeff believed, as I do, that labor isn't a special interest, it is 
the American interest. He understood a fundamental truth: when labor 
leads, America leads. And because of Jeff, more workers gained access 
to world-class training. More families found stability, opportunity, 
and dignity. And more communities saw positive progress and growth.
  Over the course of many years working alongside Jeff in our shared 
mission to champion America's working families, we built a friendship 
grounded in mutual respect and a deep sense of purpose. We began as 
partners in the fight, but I stand here today, honored to have called 
him a dear friend. Jeff was steadfast, sincere, and one of the most 
loyal people I have ever known. His laughter could lift a room. His 
word was gold, and his moral compass never wavered.
  From serving as mayor of his hometown in Snohomish, Washington, to 
becoming one of the most respected labor voices in the country--Jeff's 
prolific career was a testament to what public service should be: 
selfless, principled, and tireless.
  To his family, friends, colleagues, and his IUOE brothers and 
sisters--I offer my deepest condolences. No words can fill the void he 
leaves behind. But his legacy lives on in every worker who finds a 
path, in every project that lifts a community, and in every fight for 
fairness still ahead.
  May God bless Jeff, may He comfort all who mourn him, and may we 
continue the work Jeff loved, with honor, conviction, and heart.

                          ____________________