Congressional Record—Senate S7784
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S7784 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 18, 2018 125th birthday of the Nevada Sage- Brown, Jr., for his nearly 50 years of knowledge Arturo S. Rodrı´guez for his brush, the independent student news- committed public service to the people 45 years of leadership and commitment paper of the University of Nevada, of California. to protecting and advancing the civil, Reno. Born out of a rebellion against The son of a former California Gov- political, and economic rights of farm the university’s board of regents, the ernor, Jerry was born in San Francisco workers, most notably as president of Nevada Sagebrush has been a strong in 1938 to Pat Brown and Bernice the United Farm Workers of America, and independent voice for the student Layne. He graduated from the Univer- or UFW. body since October 19, 1893. sity of California, Berkeley in 1961 be- Born the grandson of a cattle farmer The paper has gone through several fore earning his law degree from Yale in San Antonio, TX, in 1949, Arturo name changes throughout its long his- University in 1964. He began his state- first learned of Cesar E. Chavez and tory. It was first known as the Student wide career in public service in 1970 California’s farm worker movement in Record, then changed its name to the after winning his first election as Cali- 1966. His passion for civil rights and so- Sagebrush before the 18th volume was fornia secretary of state. cial justice motivated him to become published in 1910 and finally, in 2004, In 1974, Jerry became Governor of an active farm worker supporter as a became known as the Nevada Sage- California for the first time, imple- student at Saint Mary’s University, brush. The newspaper has received an menting an agenda that epitomizes the where he would later graduate in 1971 Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker essence of California values. He helped with a degree in sociology. After re- Award several times, most recently create millions of jobs and strength- ceiving a master’s degree in social during the 2014–15 school year, and the ened the environment. He passed the work from the University of Michigan ACP Online Pacemaker Award in 2011. Agricultural Labor Relations Act and in 1973, Arturo joined the farm worker The Nevada Sagebrush alumni have led the cause for the introduction of movement full-time, working with gone on to pursue successful careers in government funding in renewable en- Chavez for the next two decades to de- a variety of prominent fields. Its edi- ergy research. After 8 years in office, velop and train new organizers, manage torial alumni have distinguished Jerry had a distinguished law career, UFW industry organizing campaigns, records in journalism, literature, edu- ran for Federal office on a platform and oversee national boycott strategies cation, business, the military, and pub- dedicated to empowering communities that would increase wages and improve lic service from the local level to the and affecting change, and served as working conditions. Following highest levels of State and Federal chairman of the California Democratic Chavez’s passing in 1993, Arturo be- Government. Party. came the second president of the UFW Among distinguished Sagebrush He reentered public life in 1998, this and committed himself to fulfilling alumni, Alan Bible, the paper’s man- time as mayor of the great city of Oak- Chavez’s legacy of creating a more just aging editor in 1929, went on to become land, my hometown. As mayor, Jerry and equitable food system that treated a U.S. Senator for Nevada from 1954– worked diligently to revitalize down- farm workers with the dignity and re- 1974. Eva Adams, the woman who ran town Oakland, reduce crime, and ex- spect they deserved. Bible’s Senate office, was the Sage- pand educational opportunities. In 2006, Arturo’s presidency has been nothing brush business manager in 1928 and was he became California attorney general short of extraordinary. Under his lead- appointed by President Kennedy to and prioritized consumer protection, ership, farm worker wages have risen head the U.S. Mint, a position she held environmental protection, and com- to an average of $13.18 an hour, above until 1969. Jim Joyce, the newspaper’s bating the underground economy. State and Federal minimum wage laws. editor from 1957–1958, served as the Finally, in 2011, Mr. Brown returned Arturo established industry-wide orga- press secretary and later executive as- to the Governor’s seat where his record nizing campaigns resulting in 80 per- sistant to Senator Howard Cannon. Ed- can only be described as extraordinary. cent of the mushroom, rose, and straw- ward Allison, the news editor in 1960, Jerry has brought California’s unem- berry workers now represented by a served as chief of staff for Senator Paul ployment rate to record lows, expanded union contract. He held employers ac- Laxalt. Sig Rogich, an editor of the health coverage to millions in the countable for wage and hour laws, win- Sagebrush from 1965–1966, served as a wake of the Affordable Care Act, and ning millions of dollars for workers in senior assistant to President H.W. established groundbreaking policies to back wages and overtime pay. He won Bush and was also the U.S. Ambassador combat climate change that have in- historic State legislation to provide to Iceland in 1992. spired our Nation and the world. Before overtime pay to farm workers and pro- Many more Sagebrush alumni have joining the U.S. Senate, I worked with tect them from heat exposure. gone on to serve and make an impact Jerry for 6 years as attorney general of As president of the largest and most in the State of Nevada. Ruthe Deskin California, during which we tackled an active farm worker movement in the and Dondero Elementary Schools in economic and housing crisis of epic Nation, Arturo has also pushed a na- Las Vegas were named after Ruthe proportions and fought to protect the tional agenda for immigrant and work- Deskin, assistant to the publisher of privacy and cyber security of Califor- ers’ rights. He led negotiations with the Las Vegas Sun for 50 years, and nia’s residents and businesses. Since major agricultural associations to de- Harvey N. Dondero, a teacher and joining the U.S. Senate, Jerry, Senator velop the agricultural provisions in the school principal in Nevada, both of FEINSTEIN, and I have worked together Senate’s comprehensive immigration whom wrote for the Nevada Sagebrush. to bring critical aid to those affected reform bill passed in 2013. He and the Rollan Melton Elementary School and by the deadly wildfires that have rav- UFW worked closely with the Obama Earl Wooster High School in Reno also aged our State. White House to secure protections for owe their namesake to alumni of this I am incredibly grateful for the op- farm workers from the harmful effects great newspaper. portunity to honor Governor Brown’s of pesticides, in addition to protections Today, I celebrate the many con- leadership and achievements today on for children and parents as part of tributions of the Nevada Sagebrush to the Senate Floor. His ability to bring President Obama’s immigration Execu- the University of Nevada, Reno and to sweeping change to improve the lives tive actions. I was honored to work the State of Nevada. It is with pride of the people he serves and the commu- closely with him as a newly elected that I ask my colleagues to join me in nities he governs is truly inspiring. His Member of the Senate to introduce the recognizing the Nevada Sagebrush for unwavering commitment to the people Fairness for Farm Workers Act, S. 3131, giving students a strong and inde- of California and vision for a more per- to strengthen critical Federal protec- pendent voice.∑ fect union will long be remembered and tions for farm workers as they face f cherished in the pages of history.∑ long hours and exposure to harsh work- f ing conditions. TRIBUTE TO EDMUND G. BROWN, Arturo’s legacy represents the best of JR. TRIBUTE TO ARTURO S. who we are as a nation. His unwavering ´ ∑ Ms. HARRIS. Mr. President, today I RODRIGUEZ commitment to bettering the lives of wish to express my deepest apprecia- ∑ Ms. HARRIS. Mr. President, it is the most vulnerable epitomizes the tion to Governor Edmund G. ‘‘Jerry’’ with gratitude that I rise today to ac- kind of servant leader we should all VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:55 Dec 19, 2018 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A18DE6.016 S18DEPT1 December 18, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7785 strive to be. His contributions to the REMEMBERING MATT ARTHUR tained both a bachelor’s degree and his farm worker movement and our Nation ∑ Mr. PERDUE. Mr. President, re- juris doctorate. will have a lasting impact for genera- cently, my hometown of Warner Rob- Justice Hines went on to serve on the ∑ tions to come. ins, GA, and indeed the entire State of bench in Georgia for over four decades. f Georgia, lost a true leader. I lost a In 1974, then-Governor Jimmy Carter chose him to fill a slot on the State REMEMBERING DR. THOMAS KENT good friend and mentor. court of Cobb County. He served there ‘‘T.K.’’ WETHERELL During his career, Matt Arthur made for 8 years until becoming a judge on ∑ Mr. NELSON. Mr. President, Dr. a difference in the lives of countless students and families. He was raised in the Superior Court of Cobb County. Thomas Kent ‘‘T.K.’’ Wetherell was a Thirteen years later, in 1995, Gov- distinguished public servant, educator, Fitzgerald, GA, one of six children.