[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 16, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING RHONDA (RANDI) WEINGARTEN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 16, 1999

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to praise a woman who has 
accomplished much. Rhonda (Randi) Weingarten is the new president of 
the 130,000-member United Federation of Teachers, the largest local 
union in the United States. She is also vice president of the 960,000 
member American Federation of Teachers, the UFT's national affiliate 
and is a member of the Board of Directors of both the New York State 
United Teachers and the New York City Central Labor Council.
  From 1986 to 1998 Randi served as counsel to UFT President Sandra 
Feldman, taking a lead role in contract negotiations for teachers and 
other school employees. When Ms. Feldman became president of the 
American Federation of Teachers, Randi was selected to serve as 
president. She has a B.S. from Cornell and graduated cum laude from the 
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. She was also an adjunct professor at 
Cardozo from 1986-91. She first became affiliated with the UFT when 
working for a prestigious law firm which had the union as a client.
  She has served as legislative assistant for the New York State Senate 
Labor Committee and as a mediator on disputes originating in the New 
York Criminal Court. She has served as a member of the board and then 
as chairperson of the Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York. She is 
also a certified teacher of social studies and American History.
  Randi continues to advance the cause of education in New York. I look 
forward to working with her to keep that education of our youth as the 
highest priority of the people and our governments at every level.

                          ____________________