HONORING CYNTHIA ANN RODRIGUES

On 2026-01-16, Representative William R. Keating (D-MA-9) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING CYNTHIA ANN RODRIGUES" in the House. The speech addressed taxes and also covered labor policy.

HONORING CYNTHIA ANN RODRIGUES

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 12 (Friday, January 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 12 (Friday, January 16, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E47] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING CYNTHIA ANN RODRIGUES _____ HON. WILLIAM R. KEATING of massachusetts in the house of representatives Friday, January 16, 2026 Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the life of Cynthia Ann Rodrigues of Westport, Massachusetts. Born to parents, Joseph and Laurine Botelho, Cynthia was raised in Fall River, Massachusetts, where she gained a passion for protecting workers' rights from a young age. At 16, Cynthia began working in the garment industry as a machine operator and became an active organizer with her union, the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union, which eventually became UNITE-HERE, AFL-CIO. Cynthia's people skills and competence helped her to efficiently resolve disagreements on the shop floor, which quickly gained her recognition among her colleagues. Over the years, she continued to move through the ranks of the union, starting as a steward and eventually becoming a business agent, notably one of the first female business agents on the New England Joint Board. Throughout her decades with UNITE-HERE, AFL-CIO, Cynthia established English classes in union shops across New England and was responsible for managing and overseeing the collective bargaining agreements of over 1,500 members across the New England region. After working as a business agent for 22 years, Cynthia retired from UNITE-HERE, AFL-CIO in 2005, but she never fully retired from her work as a labor activist and organizer. For 30 years, Cynthia served as the President of the Greater Southeastern Massachusetts Labor Council and was elected Secretary- Treasurer of the New Bedford/Cape Cod Labor Council prior to her role as president. Additionally, she was Vice President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, representing Southeastern Massachusetts until 2017, and served on the Steering Committee and Advisory Board of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Labor Education Center. Sadly, we lost Cynthia too soon at the age of 81 on January 1, 2026. In addition to her impactful work as a union organizer, Cynthia enjoyed spending time with her friends and loved ones, camping, playing Bingo, and supporting the Wish Come True organization and was the beloved wife of the late John Rodrigues. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Cynthia Rodrigues, and I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing her commitment to supporting and advancing workers' rights and bettering the lives of those around her. ____________________