July 19, 2004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5947 teacher and member of the United Federation woman who has spent her life in service to After consultation with the Office of Gen- of Teachers myself, I can personally attest to others, as she retires from the presidency of eral Counsel, I have determined that compli- her strength of conviction and determination. the American Federation of Teachers. ance with the subpoena is inconsistent with Having known her for many years, it is also a Sandy Feldman’s educational journey took the precedents and privileges of the House. her first to children as a teacher in the New Sincerely, great privilege to count her a personal friend. DAN FOOTE, Throughout her career, Sandra Feldman be- York City Public Schools, continued with her Staff Assistant. came known as an authority on urban edu- service to teachers, children and working peo- cation and an advocate for children. No ple, and culminated in her seven outstanding f stranger to activism, she began her advocacy years as President of the AFT. RECESS work during the 1960s . Equal rights has been an overarching theme A former public school student herself, she of Sandy Feldman’s life. I met Sandy when we The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- then taught in one of ’s public both were kids in the civil rights movement. ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair elementary schools. I had the privilege of The movement was nascent, but Sandy al- declares the House in recess until ap- working with Sandra Feldman when she was ready was deeply engaged. It was no surprise proximately 6:30 p.m. President of the United Federation of Teach- to me that Sandy Feldman would become the Accordingly (at 3 o’clock and 40 min- ers in New York City, the largest union local leader of a great union or that she would fight utes p.m.), the House stood in recess in the United States. She later took over as so effectively and productively for the rights of until approximately 6:30 p.m. President of the American Federation of its members. However, for Sandy and the f Teachers in 1997, leading its more than 1 mil- American Federation of Teachers, the value lion members. added has been the union’s leadership on b 1830 Throughout her career, U.S. presidents, education itself. governors and mayors have appointed her to In many circles, Sandra Feldman is equally AFTER RECESS numerous commissions and task forces tack- well-known as an educational innovator. She The recess having expired, the House ling educational, economic and child-welfare, has regarded her work for the advancement of was called to order by the Speaker pro labor and social issues. However, Sandra teachers as part and parcel of the advance- tempore (Mr. BURGESS) at 6 o’clock and Feldman’s interests went beyond the field of ment of education for children. She has under- 30 minutes. education; she serves as a board member or stood that it is impossible for children to get f activist in many community and civic organiza- what they need and deserve if teachers are tions. underpaid and without a say in the working ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER A dedicated activist, educator and leader, I conditions under which they teach. PRO TEMPORE thank Sandra Feldman for her work through- One example of her forward thinking is her The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- out her career and sincerely congratulate her handling of charter schools. Recognizing how ant to clause 8 of rule XX, proceedings on her retirement as president of the AFT. they were embraced by many families seeking will resume on motions to suspend the Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today public school alternatives, Sandy Feldman has rules previously postponed. to join my colleagues in honoring a wonderful been able to reconcile charter school popu- Votes will be taken in the following leader and educator, Ms. Sandra Feldman, as larity with the maintenance of strong public order: she retires from her role as President of the schools and the rights of teachers in districts H.R. 1587, by the yeas and nays; American Federation of Teachers. willing to work in the same spirit of respect for Senate Concurrent Resolution 114, by As the 15th president of the American Fed- all concerned. eration of Teachers and the union’s 1st female Sandy’s energy, ability to move people and the yeas and nays; and president since 1930, Ms. Feldman has led fertile mind for unique educational innovation Senate 2264, by the yeas and nays. the more than 1 million members of her union will be missed, but she has set such a high The first and third electronic votes since 1997. mark that unions and school districts alike will will be conducted as 15-minute votes. A native of New York, Sandra Feldman is a long be following the path she has so ably laid The second vote of this series will be a self-described ‘‘kid from Coney Island.’’ She out. 5-minute vote. grew up in a city-owned slum in that Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield f was condemned for all the years she lived back the balance of my time. there and worked her way through the public The SPEAKER pro tempore. The VIET NAM HUMAN RIGHTS ACT OF education system. She attended Brooklyn Col- question is on the motion offered by 2004 lege on a scholarship and later received a the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The un- master’s degree in English Literature from CASTLE) that the House suspend the finished business is the question of sus- New York University. rules and agree to the resolution. pending the rules and passing the bill, Sandra Feldman is a lifelong civil rights and The question was taken; and (two- H.R. 1587, as amended. union activist. She rose from union ranks to thirds having voted in favor thereof) The Clerk read the title of the bill. serve as president of the United Federation of the rules were suspended and the reso- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Teachers in New York City, a post she held lution was agreed to. question is on the motion offered by from 1986 to 1997, when she was elected A motion to reconsider was laid on the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. AFT president. She recognizes that children the table. SMITH) that the House suspend the are America’s most valuable resource and, as f rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1587, as such, they must have guidance from able-bod- amended, on which the yeas and nays ied professionals to develop into productive COMMUNICATION FROM STAFF AS- are ordered. members of society. SISTANT OF HON. MARCY KAP- The vote was taken by electronic de- Recognized as an authority on urban edu- TUR, MEMBER OF CONGRESS vice, and there were—yeas 323, nays 45, cation and an advocate for children, her long- The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- not voting 65, as follows: standing commitment to social justice dates fore the House the following commu- back to her involvement with the early Civil nication from Dan Foote, Staff Assist- [Roll No. 391] Rights movement. As such, she has been rec- ant of the Honorable MARCY KAPTUR, YEAS—323 ognized by many United States Presidents, Member of Congress: Ackerman Bereuter Boswell Aderholt Berkley Boucher governors and mayors to tackle the social CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, Akin Berman Boyd issues of education, the economy, child-wel- HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Alexander Berry Bradley (NH) fare and labor. Washington, DC, July 16, 2004. Allen Bilirakis Brady (PA) Mr. Speaker, I thank her for her many ef- Hon. J. DENNIS HASTERT, Andrews Bishop (NY) Brady (TX) forts and sacrifices, as she continues to work House of Representatives, Baca Bishop (UT) Brown (OH) Bachus Blackburn Brown (SC) to increase the rights of public school teachers Washington, DC. DEAR MR. SPEAKER: This is to notify you Baird Blumenauer Brown, Corrine and the quality of education for our young chil- formally, pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules Barrett (SC) Blunt Brown-Waite, dren and I ask that my colleagues join me in Bartlett (MD) Boehlert Ginny of the House of Representatives, that I have Barton (TX) Boehner Burgess congratulating this wonderful American. been served with a civil subpoena for testi- Bass Bonilla Burns Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise with mony issued by the Court of Common Pleas Beauprez Bono Burr words of strong praise for Sandra Feldman, a for Lucas County, Ohio. Becerra Boozman Burton (IN)

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