Congress, national organizations recognize America’s lineworkers
More than 135 members of Congress observed National Lineworker Appreciation Day by co-sponsoring a bipartisan resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives to honor the nation’s professionals who keep the electricity flowing.
U.S. Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-CA) sponsored House Resolution 1220 with 137 original cosponsors to designate July 10 as Journeyman Lineman Recognition Day.
“Journeyman lineworkers help keep our lights on and our country moving,” said Rep. Sánchez, the first female International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) member elected to Congress. “Their work is often difficult and dangerous, yet they rarely get the recognition they deserve.”
Specifically, the resolution would designate National Journeyman Lineman Day on July 10 each year to honor Henry Miller, IBEW’s first elected president. While working as a lineman, Miller became acutely aware of the dangerous conditions and subpar wages his fellow workers faced and he traveled across the country to organize fellow linemen.
In 1891, Miller played a key role in founding the IBEW, which has become one of the largest and most diverse unions in the country. He died on July 10, 1896, while working to solve a power outage in Washington, D.C.
Rep. Sánchez, a former member of the IBEW Local 441 and labor lawyer, is also a founding member and co-chair of the Labor Caucus. She first introduced the resolution in 2014.
“Today, I’m proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle as we honor these hard-working Americans,” Rep. Sánchez said on July 7 after introducing the resolution, which has broad support from numerous national organizations.
In fact, the IBEW International, the National Electrical Contractors Association, the Utility Workers Union of America, and the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) joined together on July 10 to observe National Lineworker Appreciation Day.
“It takes a highly trained and highly skilled professional to perform this type of work, often under difficult and dangerous conditions,” said IBEW International President Lonnie Stephenson on Sunday. “Today is a reminder that lineworkers work every day to support our communities, and we are grateful for their hard work and sacrifices.”
EEI President Tom Kuhn noted that no matter what obstacles exist, “these brave men and women always rise to the challenge, and I commend their commitment to restore power safely and as quickly as possible for our customers and our communities.
“Our nation’s lineworkers are heroes, and we applaud them for their tremendous work,” said Kuhn.
Kuhn and his colleagues also thanked Rep. Sánchez and the congressional members who sponsored the resolution for their support and recognition.
“Our nation wouldn’t run without the tireless work of our lineworkers, and it’s high time Congress recognizes them for all they do for our communities,” IBEW International’s Stephenson said. “I want to thank Rep. Sánchez and all the members of Congress for sponsoring this resolution in support of Journeyman Lineman Recognition Day.”
