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“RECOGNIZING EDWARD M. SMITH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNION LABOR LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E603 on April 14, 2008.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING EDWARD M. SMITH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNION LABOR LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY
______
HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO
of illinois
in the house of representatives
Monday, April 14, 2008
Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Edward M. Smith, as he accepts his new position as President of the Union Labor Life Insurance Company, ULLICO, and retires as Vice President, Assistant to the General President, and Midwest Regional Manager of the Laborers' International Union of North America, LIUNA.
Ed Smith was born into a union family. His father was the business manager of Local 773, and would continue in that position until his retirement. His mother was also a 15-year member of the union. So it seemed natural that, at the age of 13, Ed Smith would join Laborers' Local 773, in Cairo, Illinois, and work his way through school as a construction craft laborer.
At the age of 21, when many young men are yet to chart their career course, Ed was elected as business manager of the local union. While serving as business manager, Ed continued to expand his role within the Laborers' Union. In 1981, he was appointed International Representative for the International Union and was later appointed LIUNA legislative director for the State of Illinois. Ed was elected President of the Southern Illinois Laborers' District Council in 1986 and Business Manager in 1990.
Ed has served on a number of Union entities, including the Laborers' National Pension Fund, as Chairman of the Central Laborers' Pension Fund, Laborers' Home Development Corporation, Laborers' International Federal Employees Credit Union, Southern Illinois Laborers' Fringe Benefit Funds, Railroad Maintenance Health & Welfare Fund, and the Illinois Laborers' & Contractors Joint Apprenticeship & Training Fund.
Ed does not limit his involvement to the Laborers' Union. He was Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Investment, serves as a member of the Illinois Department of Labor Advisory Board, the Democratic National Committee, and is chairman of the National Alliance for Fair Contracting. Ed has also been a major benefactor to the Therapy Center in Carterville, Illinois, an organization that assists physically disabled children, and he serves as a board member of the ``I Can Read Program'' which helps children with reading and learning disabilities.
Ed graduated from Shawnee College with an Associate of Arts degree and, in 1992, he received Shawnee College's first Outstanding Alumni Award. Ed was the first member of the Laborers' International Union to graduate from the National Labor College with a bachelor's degree and, in 1978, he graduated from the Harvard University Trade Union Program.
Ed and his wife, Betty, reside in Olive Branch, Illinois. Ed has two children, a daughter, Jordan, and a son, Matt.
Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in an expression of appreciation to Mr. Edward M. Smith, a true champion of organized labor, and to wish him our best as he embarks on his new position as President of the Union Labor Life Insurance Company.
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