[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 15 (Thursday, January 22, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E66]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE CAREER OF BRIAN ANDERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 22, 2026

  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Brian 
Anderson, who is retiring from AFSCME Council 4 after more than two 
decades of service to the hard-working state employees who provide 
critical services to the people of the state of Connecticut.
  The story of Brian Anderson is the story of the Connecticut labor 
movement itself--one defined by grit, persistence, and an unshakeable 
belief that every worker deserves to have their labor treated with 
dignity and fairness.
  Brian's journey didn't begin in the halls of power, but on the 
manufacturing floor. It was there that he learned the true value of a 
day's work, a perspective that stayed with him when he returned to 
Central Connecticut State University as an adult to turn his passion 
for justice into a career in public policy. For over 20 years at AFSCME 
Council 4, Brian has been more than a Legislative Associate; he has 
been the shield and the sword for 30,000 public service workers.
  His career is marked by ``impossible'' victories. Brian stood at the 
forefront of the fight to gain full collective bargaining rights for 
Connecticut's public sector employees at both the state and local 
level. In particular, he fought to ensure that those who give the 
ultimate sacrifice, are never forgotten, securing the Fallen Officer 
Death Benefit Fund and restoring PTSD workers' compensation for those 
on the front lines.
  From the quiet rooms where he drafted life-changing legislation to 
the public forums where he spoke truth to power, Brian's impact is 
everywhere. He led the charge to ban private prisons, ended the era of 
captive audience meetings, and stood as the ultimate sentry over the 
pensions and retirement security of municipal and state employees.
  Beyond the bills passed and the elections won, Brian is regarded as a 
``giant among men'' because of his character. He has been a mentor to a 
new generation of advocates and a leader who fought for better pay and 
safer conditions for every member of AFSCME, regardless of political 
party.
  As a member of the Connecticut Democratic Party's State Central 
Committee, Brian mentored political new-comers and veterans alike with 
an inspired passion. He threw himself into campaigns at the federal, 
state and local level, knocking on doors, making phone calls, and poll 
standing until the final minutes of election day cheerfully and 
tirelessly. I personally am grateful for his help in all of my 
campaigns for Congress-particularly in 2006, when I was first elected 
by a margin of only 83 votes. He never sought any personal benefit, 
instead he sought only to make our world a better, fairer place for 
all.
  Today, we honor Brian Anderson--not just for the laws he helped 
write, but for the lives he helped change. He remains a principled 
leader whose voice carries the weight of history and whose heart 
remains firmly, and forever, with the working class.

                          ____________________