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“TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM ``BILL'' RAGGIO” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the Senate section on pages S2413 on Feb. 24, 2009.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM ``BILL'' RAGGIO
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to honor my longtime colleague in Nevada government, State senator William ``Bill'' Raggio, for his extensive record of public service and community activism.
At this year's Governor's Points of Light Award Dinner, Senator Raggio will be honored with the inaugural ``Governor's Choice Award.'' This award, which will be formally presented by Governor Jim Gibbons on February 26, recognizes Senator Raggio for his commitment to community improvement through volunteerism and philanthropy.
A longtime resident of Nevada, Bill has been a devoted and active member of his community. As a young man during World War II, Senator Raggio served his community and his country honorably as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Upon return, he graduated from the University of Nevada at Reno before pursuing a law degree.
Since that time, Bill has been a tireless advocate for the people of Nevada. He has served on the ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals and also as the district attorney for Washoe County. In 1973, Bill made the jump to the State senate, where his career has flourished and continues today. He has worked in various capacities in the State's legislative body, and is currently the minority leader of the senate.
I can think of no better recipient of the ``Governor's Choice Award'' than Senator Raggio. His 36 years of public service and selfless sacrifice are an example of how a single person can be an overwhelming influence for good in his community. There is no doubt that his wife Dale and their children are extremely proud of him. Indeed, all Nevadans have reason to be proud of Senator Raggio.
I congratulate Senator Raggio upon receiving this tremendous honor, and wish him all the best in his future undertakings.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, strong leadership at the Department of Labor is essential as the economy continues to worsen.
Workers who are struggling need leaders who have been there, who know what it is like to grow up in a working class household. Hilda Solis is the right person to run the most important federal agency for workers who need a helping hand. I strongly support her nomination.
Congresswoman Solis grew up in southern California and has for decades fought for the rights of working men and women.
While a member of the California State Senate she led the fight in 1996 to increase the State minimum wage.
Since her election to Congress in 2000, she has cochaired the bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues and played a key role in the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in 2006.
Last year she helped lead the effort to provide workforce training for ``green collar'' jobs.
She is also a nationally recognized leader on the environment, and for that she became the first woman to receive the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award in 2000.
Congresswoman Solis has articulated a strong vision for the Department. She is ready to lead the Department's efforts in: training and job placement for unemployed workers; building career ladders for at-risk youth, and expanding opportunities for our military heroes returning from combat.
Over 2.6 million workers have lost their jobs since this recession began, and the end is not yet in sight.
America needs an active Department of Labor to help these workers retrain for the economy of the 21st century and find new work.
America needs Hilda Solis to take charge of the Labor Department and to get to work today.
I urge my colleagues to support her nomination.
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