HONORING THE LIFE OF SENATOR ROBERT GRIFFIN AND RECOGNIZING HIS INDUCTION INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR'S HALL OF HONOR; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 156
(Extensions of Remarks - September 26, 2019)
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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1211]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE LIFE OF SENATOR ROBERT GRIFFIN AND RECOGNIZING HIS
INDUCTION INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR'S HALL OF HONOR
______
HON. JACK BERGMAN
of michigan
in the house of representatives
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Mr. BERGMAN. Madam Speaker, it's my honor to recognize the life and
service of the late Senator Robert Griffin on the occasion of his
induction into the Department of Labor's Hall of Honor. Through a
lifetime of unparalleled leadership and devotion to the public good,
Senator Griffin became an indispensable part of the state of Michigan.
Robert Paul Griffin was born November 6, 1923, in Detroit, Michigan.
The son of an auto factory foreman, Griffin spent his youth working on
auto assembly lines. During the Second World War, Robert enlisted in
the 71st Infantry Division of the U.S. Army, where he served from 1943
until 1946. Following his military service, Robert attended Central
Michigan University and went on to earn his law degree from the
University of Michigan in 1950. He practiced law in Traverse City until
his election to the U.S. House of Representatives as the Congressman
for what was then Michigan's Ninth District in 1956.
Representative Griffin became a national leader in the fight against
organized crime and union corruption, eventually helping to create the
Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959--also known as
the Landrum-Griffin Act. This landmark piece of Labor legislation has
helped to promote democracy, weed out corruption, and allow members to
participate more freely in the affairs of their union. After serving in
the House for five terms, Griffin was appointed to a vacant Senate
seat, where he would go on to win reelection and serve as the Senate
Minority Whip. Following his time in the Senate, he returned to
Traverse City to practice law until his election to the Michigan
Supreme Court in 1986. He served on the Court until his retirement in
1994. He passed away in 2015 at the age of 91.
In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Landrum-Griffin Act,
the U.S. Department of Labor has inducted Senator Griffin and former
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) member Howard Jenkins, Jr., into
the Department's Hall of Honor. With his lifetime of promoting fair and
responsible practices in unions, none are more deserving of this honor
than Senator Griffin. The impact of his life's work on the people of
the United States cannot be overstated.
Madam Speaker, it's my honor to recognize the incredible life of
Senator Robert Griffin and his induction into the Department of Labor's
Hall of Honor. His family can take great pride in knowing that the
legacy of this dedicated leader will live on for generations to come.
____________________
