September 6, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1397 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS
IN HONOR OF MARY A. PTASZEK Infenium Linden Business and Technology Italian Alps, before she was betrayed and ar- Center. EII, Inc.'s employees, all represented rested in early 1945. HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH by their respective trade unions, include elec- Mr. Speaker, for over a month and a half, OF OHIO tricians, pipefitters, millrights, and carpenters. she was beaten, burned, electrically shocked IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Each employee has been incremental in and raped. On April 23, 1945Ðthe very day scheduled for her executionÐshe managed to Wednesday, September 6, 2000 OSHA's evaluation and approval of EII, Inc. OSHA's recognition of EII, Inc. is the result escape with the help of the Italian Resistance Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to of a special relationship that has developed and two friendly German officers. In the deep honor Mary Ptaszek, a woman who committed between management and employees, a rela- dungeons of her Fascist torturers, where all her life to serving her community and improv- tionship established by the management's hope is lost and only pain and fear live, ing the lives of those who lived in it. commitment has to the safety and health of Ginetta Sagin found her deep and unshakable A dedicated servant to her community Mrs. the hard working men and women at EII, Inc. commitment to human rights. It was there that Ptaszek served as precinct committeewoman In addition, EII, Inc. is the only electrical she found her incredible strength to work tire- for three different wards, and on the Demo- contractor to receive VPP approval, with less lessly on behalf of the downtrodden. When a cratic Executive Committee. A native of Cleve- than 20 construction companies participating guard tossed her a loaf of bread, she found a land, Mrs. Ptaszek committed her life to help- nation-wideÐonly two of which are in New matchbox with a slip of paper hidden inside. ing others. A devoted wife and sibling, Mrs. Jersey. Inscribed on this piece of paper was only one Ptaszek was a lifelong member of St. Barbara Today, I ask my colleagues to join me as I word, which epitomizes her whole life: the Catholic Church where she sang in the choir. honor EII, Inc., a company that truly under- Italian word CoraggioÐCourage. Ginetta later When her mother passed away Mrs. stands the safety needs of its employees, and named the first newsletter for Amnesty Inter- Ptaszek became her family's matriarch, a company that puts people before profits. national Matchbox, reflecting this very moving hosting large family gatherings at her home. f experience. Mrs. Ptaszek's caring touch was extended not After the war, Mr. Speaker, Ginetta attended only to her family but to the greater community IN MEMORY OF GINETTA SAGIN— the prestigious Sorbonne University in Paris. as well. Her devotion to her community was PIONEER HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIV- She continued her study of child development evident as, even her final years, she would IST in 1951 at the University of Chicago, where drive fellow seniors to their medical appoint- she met and married Leonard Sagan, a med- ments or to the shopping centers. HON. TOM LANTOS ical student who later became a public health Through politics Mrs. Ptaszek looked to bet- physician. After living in Washington, DC., ter the lives of those around her. A kind-heart- OF CALIFORNIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Boston and Japan, the Sagans moved to my ed, community minded women Mrs. Ptaszek home state of California in 1968. Leonard Wednesday, September 6, 2000 sought to use politics as a tool of good to cre- Sagan died in 1977. ate better communities. Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I wish to call the While living in Washington, DC., Ginetta Mrs. Ptaszek was a kind, dedicated, pas- attention of my colleagues in the House to the began her lifelong work with Amnesty Inter- sionate woman who selflessly gave of herself passing of a dear, dear personal friend and a national, the London-based human rights or- to help others. Mr. Speaker, I ask my fellow true giant in the struggle for human rights. ganization. Ginetta helped found the United colleagues to join me in celebrating the life Just a few days ago, on Friday, August 25, States chapter of this world-wide organization and tremendous accomplishments of this truly Ginetta Sagan died of cancer at the age of 75. and, as its honorary chairwoman, worked tire- remarkable woman who worked tirelessly on I know that all of my colleagues who had lessly for its goals. behalf of others. the good fortune to know and work with her, Mr. Speaker, Amnesty International annually f and I know there are many here today who awards a prize named in Ginetta's honor in IN HONOR OF EII, INC., AT THE share my tremendous feeling of loss for not recognition of her outstanding service and INFENIUM LINDEN BUSINESS only a stalwart defender for human rights and leadership on behalf of women and children's AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER, FOR humanity around the world, but also a true rights. Not surprisingly, as soon as she RECEIVING APPROVAL FROM and wonderful personal friend and outstanding reached the Bay Area in California, she gath- OSHA TO PARTICIPATE IN THE human being. ered like-minded activists and founded Am- STAR VOLUNTARY PROTECTION Mr. Speaker, the President of the United nesty International's Western Regional Office. PROGRAMS (VPP) States appropriately honored the lifetime In addition, Ginetta created the Aurora Foun- achievements of this remarkable woman when dation in order to investigate and campaign HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ he awarded her the Presidential Medal of actively against torture in postwar Vietnam. Freedom in 1994, the highest civilian honor The Foundation continues to play a crucial OF NEW JERSEY our nation can bestow. Throughout her life, role in supporting human rights activists IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES she has brought healing, justice, and mercy to around the world. Wednesday, September 6, 2000 the oppressed and has helped to change the Ginetta also actively campaigned against Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today thinking of those who are in positions of power human rights abuses in Chile, Greece, Algeria, to honor EII, Inc., at the Linden Business and and authority. Poland, the Philippines and South Africa. In Technology Center, located in Linden, New Born in Milan, Italy, to a Jewish mother and 1971, Ginetta organized a concert in Berkeley Jersey, for its exceptional employee safety Catholic father, Ginetta Sagan first worked to raise funds for political prisoners in Greece. and health programs. against the fascists at the early age of 17, The concert, which featured her friend, folk EII, Inc.'s recent approval for participation in bringing clothes and food coupons to Jews in singer Joan Baez, and Greek entertainer the Occupational Safety and Health Adminis- hiding. Her mother and father were arrested Melina Mercouri, drew some 10,000 people. tration's (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Pro- by Mussolini's Black Brigade in 1943 and did Mr. Speaker, the San Francisco Chronicle, grams (VPP) is a testament to a company that not survive the war. In 1943, GinettaÐand she in its obituary of her published on August 29, puts the well-being of its employees above the almost always went only by her first nameÐ quotes Julianne Cartwright Taylor, chair of careless and irresponsible desire to increase worked as a courier for the Italian resistance, Amnesty International USA Board of Directors: profits at all costsÐrare behavior at a time using her nickname Topolino, or ``Little ``Her [Ginetta's] legacy is a constant reminder when profits often seem more important than Mouse.'' Ginetta was only 5 feet tall, but she that our role is vital, and that without the work people. had the energy and the power of a giant. She of human rights defenders, thousands upon EII, Inc. is an electrical contractor providing helped to transport more than 300 fugitives thousands of individuals would be affected for maintenance and process support at the and thousands of pamphlets through the the worst.''
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