[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22482]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     IN RECOGNITION OF LOREE SOGGS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 5, 2006

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 
contributions of Mr. Loree Soggs to both Cleveland and Ohio. Mr. Soggs 
has been a member of and advocate for unions since he entered the 
workforce over 40 years ago. He has also serves the community 
diligently through his extensive civic participation.
  Mr. Soggs entered his union as an operating engineer, and he has 
served his IUOE Local 18 as a business agent, apprenticeship 
coordinator, steward director, officer and fringe benefit fund trustee. 
In 1994, Mr. Soggs was elected to the office of executive secretary for 
Cleveland's Building and Construction Trades Council, being the first 
operating engineer to hold this office in the council's history. He has 
successfully negotiated numerous contracts fighting for the betterment 
of working men and women within the community. He further supports the 
realm of labor by serving as president of the North Shore Federation of 
Labor, vice president of the Ohio State Building and Construction 
Trades Council, executive director of the Northern Ohio Building Trades 
Real Estate Investment Program, trustee of the Union Construction 
Industry Partnership, and serves as a board member on four other labor 
related organizations.
  The civic realm has benefited equally from Mr. Soggs' years of 
dedicated work. As an advocate for senior citizens, he strives to 
improve the quality of life of the elderly, specifically focusing on 
housing efforts. He is very politically involved, serving on the 
executive committee of the Cuyahoga Democratic Party and as a board 
member of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. Due to his civic 
dedication, Mr. Soggs is being honored by the State of Israel Bonds for 
his values and ideals rooted in democracy, and the inalienable rights 
of working men and women.
  Mr. Soggs' work is rooted in his bachelor of arts degree from 
Defiance College, as well as the support from his wife, Barbara, and 
their five children.
  Mr. Speaker and my fellow colleagues, please join me in celebration 
of the efforts of Mr. Loree Soggs to the labor and civic communities in 
Ohio. His contributions have not gone unnoticed, and will surely 
multiply and reach new levels of excellence in the upcoming years.

                          ____________________