Donna Edwards: “Thank you. It's really my pleasure to stand here with my good friend Congressman Dingell in honoring the incredible life…”

“Thank you. It's really my pleasure to stand here with my good friend Congressman Dingell in honoring the incredible life and career and advocacy of Ron Gettelfinger, who retired just last week after a distinguished union career that began in 1964, when I was just a kid. But I will tell you, for the benefits that all of us as Americans and as workers have received for his good work with the United Auto Workers, we are all grateful. And you don't have to be from Michigan to understand the contributions that Mr. Gettelfinger has made. He has been a fierce advocate on behalf of workers. He understood that in his position as president of the United Auto Workers, he needed to try to address the current needs of his workers as well as the future needs that may come up. In 2006, Mr. Gettelfinger pushed to renew America's grasp on technology and innovation. He called for a renewal of America's industrial base through incentives to manufacture energy-saving advanced technology vehicles right here in the United States.”