mr. trumka: the american labor movement is right here with you today. d shoulder to shoulder with you for as long as it takes! paul: richard trumka, unswerving advocate for working women and men, ally of democratic lawmakers and presidents. pres. biden: he was always there. he was an american worker, always fighting for working people, protecting their wages, their safety, their pensions, and their ability to build a middle-class life. paul: trumka grew up the son and grandson of miners and followed his family into the coal mines of pennsylvania. college and law degrees helped take him to the top at the united mine workers. from there, he moved to the top of the afl-cio, still, as always, a fiery and passionate presence. mr. trumka: i will stop demonizing big business just as soon as they put their country before their profits and they put their workers before their greed. i will stop at that point. paul: trumka has spent his career trying to reverse the waning influence of unions. but since the miners strike he led in 1989, union membership in america h

mr. trumka to explain why he sold us out? how is the green new deal inevitable under the democratic rule going to benefit anybody outside of the electrical union? how can steel be produced with solar panels? how you could even make solar panels without stripmining? he should take the time to apologize to the pipeline workers and resign publicly. guest: i appreciate his point of view. unfortunately for him, the vast majority of our membership agrees with the positions that we have taken. you should know that i don't take these positions. these positions come from the rank-and-file to the unions. and the unions come to the executive council. they tell me what policies they want. climate change is real. we have to address it. that doesn't mean that people have to be left behind. we have insisted that as we change, as these jobs change, so that you go from a high paying carbon fuel energy job, if those jobs are made union we can increase them and they become family supporting jobs for lower carbon. if not there will be a lower st

mr. trumka was a third generation coal miner. ts at the mine. at age 33, trumka was elected the youngest president of the united mine workers. in 2009, he became president of the afl-cio. in his acceptance speech, he addressed the future of work in the wake of the financial crisis. >> we need a new kind of labor movement. one shaped to meet the needs of america's in a changing economy. we need a labor movement that's not afraid of new ideas and understands that nostalgia for the past is no strategy for the future. >> mr. trumka's words take on a new meaning today. this week, the actor equity's association, which is part of the afl-cio, said that broadway actors will need to be vaccinated. and the american federation of teacher's president is traveling the country, trying to build trust that schools are safe. richard trumka is survived by his wife and son. he lived to be 72. >>> up next, president biden has big plans for electric vehicles, but the auto industry's plans might be even bigger. will americans shift from pickup trucks t

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mr. trumka, she became the first woman president of the afl-cio. about 10 days ago, you were elected by the executive council to fill out his term as i understand it right. so welcome. now, for the ground rules. we are on the record. please, no live blogging or tweeting, no filing of any kind while the record is underway. once the session ends at 10:00, there is no embargo. we will email a rough transcript to all reporters here shortly after we conclude. as many of you know, if you would like to ask a question, send me a signal and i will call on as many of you as time permits. now, president schuler, if you would like to make opening remarks, the floor is yours. >> thank you so much, linda. good morning, everyone. good to see you. thank you for being here. i know this event has become a labor day tradition, and we intend to keep it. i know how much you have enjoyed interacting with richard trumka, who enjoyed this breakfast. you are right, he enjoyed the debate. he has set a high bar for me certainly, and it is my second week on the job, so hopefu

mr. trumka was an important ally of the biden white house.running late to an event after learning of his death calling him a close friend. >>> other big political news in washington this week, progressive democrats taking a hard look at the chess board, you might say. led by the missouri congressman corey bush pushed the white house to move an eviction moratorium. they won. emboldened on the one hand, discouraged on the other. so now what? some progressives see proof in the evictions fight they can move the biden white house their way. some moderate democrats, though, say proof in the ohio primary results, the president should worry more about the middle and less about the left. our panel is back with us now to discuss. >>> mollie ball, this is one week, two big episodes in one week we should be careful not to count any one as decisive. this is going to be the constant tug-of-war of the biden presidency. there is an ideological generational movement in the democratic party, but many of the moderates say it just gets too much attention. >> yea

trumka has died. president biden said he died of a heart attack yesterday while on a camping trip with his son and grandkids. mrd him a dear friend. trumka, a former coal miner, was president of the 12.5 million member union since 2009. richard trumka was 72 years old. >>> president biden signed a bill awarding medals to january 6th first responders and there is a renewed effort to pass a voting bill in texas. the some of the headlines on the morning newsstand. the austin american statesman reports texas governor greg abbott called a second special session of the state legislature as democratic lawmakers remain in washington, d.c. abbott ordered legislators to reconvene tomorrow one day after the current 30-day special session ends. the governor wants lawmakers to pass a controversial republican-led bill that would restrict voting in the state. democrats blocked the measure by walking out at the end of the regular session in may and the start of a special session last month. >>> the "washington post" says president biden signed a bill awarding congressional gold medals to law enforcement officers who responded

mr. president, i thought of what rich trumka did. one of the things i worked most of my career on was a better fair trade policy. we have seen -- i voted against every single trade agreement that came in front of me until two years ago, and that's because rich trumka played a major role in changing nafta, changing the the united states-mexico-canada agreement and put in language that senator lankford and i worked on. mr. president, the way that rich trumka understood government is if you put workers at the center of our policy, workers at the center of our trade policy, workers at the center of our tax policy, workers at the center of everything we do here, call it the dignity of work, call it the dignity of putting workers at the center, you do that, everything right will flow from there. we will have a more just society, a more prosperous society, we will have more opportunity for our children. that's what rich trumka was, that's what he stood for, that's what he was all about. that's the fight, mr. president, that we need to carry

rich trumka, on the street marching and battling for an increase in the minimum wage, even though his entire membership already had a higher wage, always helping those who didn't have power. so, mr. president, it's difficult on a day like today to be comprehensive, in a recitation of all that rich trumka contributed to working men and women and by extension our country. our best tribute is not what we will say in a floor speech or a statement or even in a eulogy, as important as those words are, as important as it is to pay tribute. maybe the best tribute of all that we can contribute, that we can offer in memory of rich trumka is to keep up the work, to pick up the banner and keep marching, keep fighting, and we have one of those opportunities in the next few months in the opportunity that presents itself in the form of a piece of legislation that senator murray talked about from the floor today and she has led the fight on -- the pro act, the protect the right to organize act, that rich trumka spent his whole life -- or i should say the most recent years of his life trying to enact into law. so our tribute to him should be to pass that piece of legislation. so, mr. president,

mr. president. i rise this afternoon almost the evening now to reflect on the sad news that we received today that rich trumka, the president of the afl-cio passed away today. i wanted to try to provide some perspective at least from my vantage point as a pennsylvanian because he was a son of pennsylvania. born in southwestern pennsylvania in greene county, greene county for those who don't know where it is in the furthest southwestern corner of our state right where the -- the corner where pennsylvania, ohio, and west virginia meet. rich trumka was a man who fought his whole life in the cause of justice, fighting on behalf of working men and women. he served as -- before he became president of the afl-cio, obviously a national position, he also as a very young man -- i think he might have been 32 at the time -- served as the president of the united mine workers of america, that union. and that was during a very difficult time for coal miners and their families and then in that position and so many others he fought for workers everywhere. literally the world over. not just leer in america but workers in -- he

mr. president, i thought of what rich trumka did. one of the things i worked most of my career on was a better fair trade policy. we have seen -- i voted against every single trade agreement that came in front of me until two years ago, and that's because rich trumka played a major role in changing nafta, changing the the united states-mexico-canada agreement and put in language that senator lankford and i worked on. mr. president, the way that rich trumka understood government is if you put workers at the center of our policy, workers at the center of our trade policy, workers at the center of our tax policy, workers at the center of everything we do here, call it the dignity of work, call it the dignity of putting workers at the center, you do that, everything right will flow from there. we will have a more just society, a more prosperous society, we will have more opportunity for our children. that's what rich trumka was, that's what he stood for, that's what he was all about. that's the fight, mr. president, that we need to carry

host: richard trumka, we thank consent the quorum be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: i rise today wit sen. schumer: i rise today with some horrible news about the passing of a friend richard trumka who left us this morning. lost a fierce warrior at a time when we needed him most. just yesterday rich was lending his support to the striking miners in alabama. following in his father's footsteps, he worked in the mines. he went to penn state, earned his law degree, didn't practice, didn't go to some fancy place. went right to work for the united mine workers, which he led for so many years, and then he became head, first secretary treasurer in the afl-cio. he had in his veins, in every atom of his body, the heart, the thoughts, the needs of the working people of america. he was them. rich trumka was the working people of america. he never had any airs. he never put it on. and he cared about his fellow workers so. he was a great leader. he knew that the working -- that the labor movement and working people had to expand and be diverse. one of his passions as a l

that's what rich trumka was, that's what he stood for, that's what he was all about. that's the fight, mr. president, that we need to carry on onthanm president. before i begin the remarks that brought me here today, i want to say a word about richard trumka, a hero to all of us who care about working people and a good friend to many of us. i'm proud to call him a friend. and proud to have been with him as

mr. president, the way that rich trumka understood government is if you put workers at the center of our policy, workers at the center of our trade policy, workers at the center of our tax policy, workers at the center of everything we do here, call it the dignity of work, call it the dignity of putting workers at the center, you do that, everything right will flow from there. we will have a more just society, a more prosperous society, we will have more opportunity for our children. that's what rich trumka was, that's what he stood for, that's what he was all about. that's the fight, mr. president, that we need to carry on on stam call, mr. president? the presiding officer: we are not. ms. stabenow: mr. president, i just wanted to lend words in support of what majority leader schumer just said about rich trumka and send my prayers and love to barbara and his family. everyone in the labor movement, what a strong, vibrant, committed leader. we've worked together on so many different issues, and it was always about is this going to create good-paying jobs? are workers going to be able to h

i know, importune all of us to do more, even more for the working people of america, who rich trumka so mr. brown: thank you, mr. president. i've actually said this on the floor. i rise with a heavy heart because of the death earlier today of longtime friend rich trumka who was longtime president of the natio

that's what rich trumka was, that's what he stood for, that's what he was all about. that's the fight, mr. president, that we need to carry on on hism president. before i begin the remarks that brought me here today, i want to say a word about richard trumka, a hero to all of us who care about working people and a good friend to many of us. i'm proud to call him a friend. and proud to have been with him as an ally in causes and principles that are so important to the present of america and the future of america. i'm proud to have been with him on picket line and platform, to have stood with him and behind him in supporting the rights of working men and women to decent pay, fair treatment, and safety on the job. he came from america and he never forgot where he came from. his life is a lesson to so many of us who seek to emulate his devotion to the public interest. and as a leader of the labor movement, his life always -- also reminds us that unions count, that collective bargaining means something, that rights of working men and women succeed because they come together in unions and we ou

know, importune all of us to do more, even more for the working people of america, who rich trumka so call, mr. president? the presiding officer: we are not. ms. stabenow: mr. president, i just wanted to lend words in support of what majority leader schumer just said about rich trumka and send my prayers and love to barbara and his family. everyone in the labor movement, what a strong, vibrant, committed leader. we've worked together on so many different issues, and it was always about is this going to create good-paying jobs? are workers going to be able to have their voice in the workplace? is there standard of living going to increase? what are we doing for folks? are we bringing jobs home? are we creating jobs here? what are we doing for the backbone of our country, which are working men and women? so i just want to indicate my profound sadness and shock, and my love and support for all of those who i mr. brown: thank you, mr. president. i rise with -- i don't know if i've actually

mr. president. i rise today to join my colleagues in saying i am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my great friend, richard trumka. to say rich was a champion for workers is really an understatement. he dedicated his life to fighting, to secure and strengthen workers' rights. everyone who knew rich knew just how deeply committed he was to that mission. he understood how hard people in this country work for their families. he understood the dignity of work. he grew up understanding it. his grandfather was a coal miner. his father was a coal miner. and so was he. and it's because he knew how hard people across the country work that he was driven to work so hard himself to hold washington accountable and make sure our country was looking out for working families. for decades, rich led the charge in creating a country that treats all workers with the dignity and respect that they deserve and where every worker had the right to join a union, including by fighting to root out systemic inequities and racism in this country. rich once said -- and i want to quote it -- there is a evil that's inflicted more pain and more s

mr. warnock: thank you very much. madam chair, before i begin, i want to pause and remember an effective leader in the labor movement and a champion for working families, richard trumka richard trumka believed in the dignity of work and the dignity of workers and that they should share in the prosperity that they provide for others. his family is in my prayers, and as we remember and honor his legacy as a vital

rich trumka, on the street marching and battling for an increase in the minimum wage, even though his entire membership already had a higher wage, always helping those who didn't have power. so, mr. president, it's difficult on a day like today to be comprehensive, in a recitation of all that rich trumka contributed to working men and women and by extension our country. our best tribute is not what we'll say in a floor speech sore a statement or -- or a statement or even in a eulogy, as important as those words are, as important as toss pay tribute. maybe the best tribute of all that we can contribute, that we can offer in memory of rich trumka is to keep up the work, to pick up the banner and keep marching, keep fighting, and we have one of those opportunities in the next few months in the opportunity that presents itself in the form of a piece of legislation that senator murray talked about from the floor today and she has led the fight on -- the pro act, the protect the right to organize act, that rich trumka spent his whole life -- or i should say the most recent years of his life trying to enact into law. so our tribute to him should be to pass that piece of legislation. so