[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 82 (Thursday, June 6, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1009]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO HELEN BERNSTEIN

                                 ______


                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 5, 1996

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to my close 
friend, Helen Bernstein, who is this year retiring as president of 
United Teachers--Los Angeles. By an accident of geography, I have known 
Helen since she was 9 years old; her family happened to live a block 
from my family. Through the years I have been lucky to work with Helen 
on many issues, and to see our friendship grow stronger.
  Anyone who knows Helen even casually knows how much education, 
teaching, and children mean to her. She has taught history at Sun 
Valley Junior High School, Olive Vista Junior High School, and Marshall 
High School. In addition, she was a counselor at Olive Vista and 
Marshall.
  Helen's extracurricular interests offer further proof of her passion 
for children and education. She has been a board member of the Los 
Angeles Educational Partnership; a founding member of the Los Angeles 
Educational Alliance for Restructuring Now [LEARN] working group, and a 
member of the National Council for K-12.
  Of course, Helen is best known as the three-term president of United 
Teachers--Los Angeles. Her forceful advocacy on behalf of public school 
teachers at the bargaining table has gained Helen the undying 
admiration of her colleagues.
  At the same time, Helen has never been shy about countering the 
criticism of teachers and public schools expressed with greater 
frequency over the past few years. She has willingly put herself on the 
line.
  I ask my colleagues to join me today in saluting Helen Bernstein, a 
champion of teachers' rights, public school education, and children. 
Her dedication and selflessness are an inspiration to us all.

                          ____________________