UAW President Bob King praised the efforts of UAW Legislative Director Barbara Somson on behalf of UAW members and workers everywhere as she prepares to retire at the end of this session of Congress.

"Barbara has led the union's efforts in Washington through some very important and challenging times," said King, "and she has been an effective voice on a wide variety of issues."

Somson has been the UAW's legislative director since 2010, previously serving as deputy legislative director since 1999. "Barbara played a critical role in the restructuring of the domestic auto industry during the global economic crisis," said King, "including assisting in securing the bridge loans that helped turn the auto industry around, making it one of the fast-growing job creators in the American economy today."

In recent years Somson worked on issues as diverse as two sets of new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations, energy policy, health care implementation, tax policy, and trade.  She also served on the steering committee of the BlueGreen Alliance after the UAW joined the organization in 2010.

Somson is a long-term advocate for policies that help the least fortunate, and has led the union's work in protecting funding for unemployment compensation and legal services.

"Barbara's commitment to fundamental issues of social justice has made a difference in how the UAW communicates on these issues," said King. "We are deeply thankful for the contributions she made in the fight for fairness. 

"Personally, and on behalf of the UAW Executive Board, I want to wish Barbara all the best as she retires from the UAW," King added.