PRINTER'S NO. 4447
No. 825 Session of 2006
INTRODUCED BY BELFANTI, SURRA, EACHUS, DeWEESE, VEON, BLACKWELL, BUXTON, CASORIO, FREEMAN, GERGELY, GOODMAN, W. KELLER, McGEEHAN, RAMALEY, BEBKO-JONES, BEYER, CALTAGIRONE, CAPPELLI, COHEN, CORRIGAN, CRAHALLA, CREIGHTON, CRUZ, DALEY, DeLUCA, FORCIER, GABIG, GANNON, GEORGE, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HASAY, HERSHEY, JAMES, JOSEPHS, KILLION, LEACH, LEDERER, MANN, McGILL, McILHATTAN, MELIO, MILLARD, MYERS, PALLONE, PARKER, PHILLIPS, PISTELLA, RAYMOND, READSHAW, ROBERTS, ROHRER, ROONEY, SAINATO, SATHER, SCAVELLO, SHANER, SHAPIRO, SIPTROTH, STABACK, TIGUE, VITALI, WALKO, WOJNAROSKI, YOUNGBLOOD AND YUDICHAK, JUNE 30, 2006
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, JUNE 30, 2006
A RESOLUTION 1 Commemorating the life of the late Martin "Marty" Berger and 2 recognizing his contributions and achievements for working 3 residents and retired residents in Pennsylvania and 4 throughout the country. 5 WHEREAS, Martin Berger passed away on June 18, 2006, from 6 cancer at the age of 77; and 7 WHEREAS, Mr. Berger dedicated his life to advocating on 8 behalf of workers, organized labor and retirees; and 9 WHEREAS, Mr. Berger first became active in politics at the 10 age of 15, living in New York City; and 11 WHEREAS, Throughout his work and travels on behalf of the 12 labor movement, Mr. Berger helped thousands of laborers join 13 unions, assisting in the development and growth of unions and 14 improving workers' living standards and respect on the job; and
1 WHEREAS, Mr. Berger spent his career helping to build the 2 International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU), which is now 3 known as UNITE HERE, and the AFL-CIO has referred to it as one 4 of the strongest and most progressive unions in the United 5 States; and 6 WHEREAS, Mr. Berger opened the First Garment Workers Justice 7 Center in New York; and 8 WHEREAS, Mr. Berger most recently served this organization as 9 the retiree coordinator for the Pennsylvania Chapter of UNITE 10 HERE; and 11 WHEREAS, Mr. Berger served as vice-president of the 12 Pennsylvania AFL-CIO; and 13 WHEREAS, At the time of his death Mr. Berger held the 14 position of President of the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired 15 Americans (PARA), the Pennsylvania affiliate of a national 16 organization that serves over three million seniors and 17 retirees; and 18 WHEREAS, Among many notable achievements while heading PARA, 19 Mr. Berger garnered significant grassroots support for the 20 expansion of programs for Pennsylvania seniors, including 21 improved eligibility requirements for the PACE and PACENET 22 programs; and 23 WHEREAS, In addition to advocating on behalf of retirees, Mr. 24 Berger encouraged all seniors in Pennsylvania to use their 25 golden years to become more active and participate in 26 government; therefore be it 27 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commemorate the 28 life of the late Martin "Marty" Berger and recognize his 29 contributions and achievements for working residents and retired 30 residents in Pennsylvania and throughout the country and 20060H0825R4447 - 2 -
1 remember Martin "Marty" Berger as a man whose tireless efforts 2 brought about a better life for millions of people; and be it 3 further 4 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives extend 5 condolences to the family and friends of Martin Berger; and be 6 it further 7 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to 8 his wife, Helen Berger, at 141 Cedarbrook Road, Ardmore PA 9 19003. F23L82JAM/20060H0825R4447 - 3 -