Union hosts congressional reception

Annual event attracts legislators, officials, labor leaders

EACH YEAR THE LEAP conference hosts a special event designed for one purpose: to bring together legislators, government officials, labor leaders, and others who play a role in the welfare of our members and their families.

The congressional reception offers an opportunity to mingle, to start up a new relationship, or to strengthen an existing one. Boilermaker delegates meet with their representatives (or legislator staffs) for photographs and escort them to the reception area to share food, spirits, and conversation.

The importance of this annual event cannot be overestimated, for some day those same politicians will be voting on issues of vital importance to labor in general and the Boilermakers in particular. The strength of the relationships our delegates build with their elected representatives may well be the difference between a negative outcome and a positive one.

With so much at stake over trade, energy, the environment, the economy, good jobs, and so many other issues, it’s vital to have friends on Capitol Hill. And the congressional reception is all about building friendships.

Photo Gallery

Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN 4th), with (l. to r.) IR Len Gunderson; Robert Kenmir, L-647; IST Bill Creeden; IVP Larry McManamon, Sam Polchow; Matt Olsen, L-647; Bill Polchow, L-647; and IR Tony Palmisano.
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN 4th), with (l. to r.) IR Len Gunderson; Robert Kenmir, L-647; IST Bill Creeden; IVP Larry McManamon, Sam Polchow; Matt Olsen, L-647; Bill Polchow, L-647; and IR Tony Palmisano.
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Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA 41st), second from left, with IP Newton Jones, third from left; Dave Hoogendoorn, L-549, far left; and Jay Rojo, L-92.
Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA 41st), second from left, with IP Newton Jones, third from left; Dave Hoogendoorn, L-549, far left; and Jay Rojo, L-92.
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Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL 11th), center, with (l. to r.) Glenn Reinhardt, L-483; Kirk Cooper, L-60; IST Bill Creeden; IR Bill Staggs; IR Dwain Burnham; IP Newton Jones; IVP Larry McManamon; and IR Tony Palmisano.
Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL 11th), center, with (l. to r.) Glenn Reinhardt, L-483; Kirk Cooper, L-60; IST Bill Creeden; IR Bill Staggs; IR Dwain Burnham; IP Newton Jones; IVP Larry McManamon; and IR Tony Palmisano.
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Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA 15th), third from left, with l. to r. IR Jim Cooksey; IST Bill Creeden; IP Newton Jones; Dave Hoogendoorn, L-549; Jay Rojo, L-92; and IVP Larry McManamon.
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA 15th), third from left, with l. to r. IR Jim Cooksey; IST Bill Creeden; IP Newton Jones; Dave Hoogendoorn, L-549; Jay Rojo, L-92; and IVP Larry McManamon.
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Rep. John Conyers (D-MI 13th), center, with IP Newton Jones, fourth from right; IVP Larry McManamon, third from right; IST Bill Creeden, fourth from left; and the L-169 delegation.
Rep. John Conyers (D-MI 13th), center, with IP Newton Jones, fourth from right; IVP Larry McManamon, third from right; IST Bill Creeden, fourth from left; and the L-169 delegation.
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Rep. David Loebsack (D-IA 2nd), center, with (l. to r.) Scott Campbell, L-83; IST Bill Creeden; Joe Lewandowski, L-83; and IP Newton Jones.
Rep. David Loebsack (D-IA 2nd), center, with (l. to r.) Scott Campbell, L-83; IST Bill Creeden; Joe Lewandowski, L-83; and IP Newton Jones.
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Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI 1st), second from right, with (l. to r.) IVP Dave Haggerty; IP Newton Jones; and Chuck Hancock, L-29.
Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI 1st), second from right, with (l. to r.) IVP Dave Haggerty; IP Newton Jones; and Chuck Hancock, L-29.
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Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ 12th) with IP Newton Jones, sixth from right, IVP Dave Haggerty, far left; and delegates from New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ 12th) with IP Newton Jones, sixth from right, IVP Dave Haggerty, far left; and delegates from New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
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Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ 7th), center, with (l. to r.) IR Jim Cooksey; Wesley Dale, L-627; IP Newton Jones; and Jacob Evenson, L-627.
Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ 7th), center, with (l. to r.) IR Jim Cooksey; Wesley Dale, L-627; IP Newton Jones; and Jacob Evenson, L-627.
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Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY 12th) with (l. to r.) Steve Ludwigson, L-5; IP Newton Jones; Tom Ryan, L-5; and Mo Fernandez, L-5.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY 12th) with (l. to r.) Steve Ludwigson, L-5; IP Newton Jones; Tom Ryan, L-5; and Mo Fernandez, L-5.
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Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM 1st), with (l. to r.) Wesley Dale, L-627; IP Newton Jones; and Jacob Evenson, L-627.
Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM 1st), with (l. to r.) Wesley Dale, L-627; IP Newton Jones; and Jacob Evenson, L-627.
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Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA 3rd), fourth from right, with (l. to r.) IVP Dave Haggerty; IP Newton Jones; Jermaine Taylor, L-684; Tracy Taylor; Rasheena Wilson; Kevin Wilson, L-57; and IR Frank Hartsoe.
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA 3rd), fourth from right, with (l. to r.) IVP Dave Haggerty; IP Newton Jones; Jermaine Taylor, L-684; Tracy Taylor; Rasheena Wilson; Kevin Wilson, L-57; and IR Frank Hartsoe.
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Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI 14th), fourth from right; IP Newton Jones, center; IVP Larry McManamon, third from right; SAIP-CSO/D-NCA Tony Jacobs, far right; and members of the Michigan delegation.
Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI 14th), fourth from right; IP Newton Jones, center; IVP Larry McManamon, third from right; SAIP-CSO/D-NCA Tony Jacobs, far right; and members of the Michigan delegation.
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Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), second from left, with (l. to r.) Jason Small, L-11; IP Newton Jones; and Tim Laedeke, L-11.
Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), second from left, with (l. to r.) Jason Small, L-11; IP Newton Jones; and Tim Laedeke, L-11.
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Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI 12th), fourth from left, with members of the Michigan delegation and IP Newton Jones, fifth from left; IVP Larry McManamon, far right; SAIP-CSO/D-NCA Tony Jacobs, fourth from right; IR Don Hamric, third from right, and Kate Jones.
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI 12th), fourth from left, with members of the Michigan delegation and IP Newton Jones, fifth from left; IVP Larry McManamon, far right; SAIP-CSO/D-NCA Tony Jacobs, fourth from right; IR Don Hamric, third from right, and Kate Jones.
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Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX 18th), with (l. to r.) Jacob Evenson, L-627, IST Bill Creeden, IP Newton Jones and Mark Thompson, L-132.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX 18th), with (l. to r.) Jacob Evenson, L-627, IST Bill Creeden, IP Newton Jones and Mark Thompson, L-132.
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Rep. James Langevin (D-RI 2nd), second from right, with IP Newton Jones, far right, and (l. to r.) Chuck Hancock and Scott Burke, both of Local 29.
Rep. James Langevin (D-RI 2nd), second from right, with IP Newton Jones, far right, and (l. to r.) Chuck Hancock and Scott Burke, both of Local 29.
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Rep. James Langevin (D-RI 2nd), second from left, with IP Newton Jones, far right, and (l. to r.) John Adamson and Frank Ward, both of Local 614.
Rep. James Langevin (D-RI 2nd), second from left, with IP Newton Jones, far right, and (l. to r.) John Adamson and Frank Ward, both of Local 614.
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Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA 3rd), second from left, with IP Newton Jones, third from left, and (l. to r.) IR James Cooksey, Dave Hoogendoorn (L-549) and IR Robert Godinez.
Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA 3rd), second from left, with IP Newton Jones, third from left, and (l. to r.) IR James Cooksey, Dave Hoogendoorn (L-549) and IR Robert Godinez.
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