[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 51 (Tuesday, April 20, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E546]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO JOHN HEIN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT T. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 20, 2004

  Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in tribute to a man with a 
distinguished public service career. Throughout the course of his 
career, John Hein has served the people of California, especially its 
school children, with great success and distinction. John recently 
retired from his position as the Associate Executive Director for the 
California Teachers Association. It is my honor to ask all my 
colleagues to join me in saluting John Hein, a tireless and passionate 
advocate for public education in California.
  John Hein has undoubtedly been one of California's most effective 
education reformers and loyal supporters of public education in recent 
history. John possesses the necessary work ethic and conviction to 
successfully represent and advance the interests of California's 6.5 
million school children. John's remarkable track record in moving an 
extraordinary agenda for California's school children is almost 
unparalleled anywhere in the field of education.
  John's insight and perseverance were instrumental in negotiating a 
settlement in the California Teachers Association v. Gould lawsuit that 
resulted in the largest decrease in class size in the history of 
California. John's masterful handling of this settlement also produced 
the largest financial commitment to instructional materials for each 
student in every subject, as well as the largest increase in 
professional development opportunities for classroom teachers in the 
Nation.
  Aside from being an astute negotiator, John was also a skilled 
organizer of a number of important public campaigns. John was a major 
organizer in a mass demonstration of teachers and other supporters of 
public education that played a big part in a $2 billion increase in 
general revenues to the public schools. To this day, this change in 
policy remains the largest single increase in school funding in the 
history of California. Driven by a deep commitment to increased local 
funding for public schools, John played a vital role in the successful 
effort to reduce the vote threshold for local school bonds from two-
thirds to 55 percent. Passage of this measure resulted in a $26 billion 
increase in state funding for new and rehabilitated schools. John also 
lent his considerable talents to the fight against school vouchers. 
John was able to bring together a massive statewide coalition that 
delivered a resounding defeat to the voucher movement in California and 
across the nation. Time and time again, John has proven that he is one 
of the greatest friends of public education in California.
  John's relentless dedication to public education and his strong 
leadership have made the California Teacher's Association one of the 
most powerful organizations to lobby on behalf of public education and 
associated issues in the country. Under John's leadership, the 
California Teachers Association crafted the most rigorous academic 
standards in the nation, a new statewide testing system, a new school 
facilities law and other major education reforms.
  A man of many talents and considerable energy, John's leadership in 
California went well beyond public education issues. John has served on 
the executive boards of campaigns that sought to protect affirmative 
action, racial data collection, bilingual education, and immigrants' 
rights in California. John's commitment to public service has enabled 
him to make a positive contribution to the lives of all Californians.
  Mr. Speaker, as John Hein embarks on an exciting new chapter of his 
life, I am honored to pay tribute to a great champion of public 
education in California. The people of California have benefited 
greatly from John's leadership and we all owe him a debt of gratitude. 
I ask all my colleagues to join me in wishing John continued success in 
all of his future endeavors, wherever retirement may lead him.

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