Newest Member of Congress is IAM Member

Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) will give a hero's welcome to California Democratic Congresswoman-elect Laura Richardson today when she arrives to speak at the union's National Staff Conference in Orlando, FL.

Richardson is a member of IAM District 947, Local 1930 in Long Beach, CA, and recently won a special election to fill the 37th District seat left vacant by the death of Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald. The 37th district includes Long Beach, Carson, Harbor City, Lakewood, Wilmington and parts of Los Angeles.

"Laura Richardson defeated 18 challengers in the primary and four more in the special election to become the newest member of Congress from California's 37th District," said IAM President Tom Buffenbarger. "Before that she prevailed to win seats on the Long Beach City Council and the California State Assembly. It's clear she embodies the spirit of the Fighting Machinists and the only question is what else will this woman achieve in her remarkable career?"

Richardson began her legislative career as a community activist in 2000, winning a seat on the Long Beach City Council, where she secured funding for housing, transportation and job training programs. In addition to her duties on the council, Richardson served as Southern California Director for Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante from 2001 to 2005. At that time, Bustamante was the second highest Latino elected official in the United States.

The IAM is among the nation's largest industrial trade unions, representing over 700,000 active and retired members under more than 4,000 contracts in airline, aerospace, manufacturing, railroad, government employees and shipbuilding industries. For more information, go to http://www.goiam.org.