[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 21, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S10292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     THE PASSING OF SANDRA FELDMAN

 Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I rise to remember and celebrate 
the incredible life and legacy of Sandra Feldman, a past president of 
the American Federation of Teachers, who passed away on Monday at the 
age of 66 after a long battle with breast cancer.
  Ms. Feldman was truly a trailblazer for education. She dedicated her 
life to enhancing educational opportunities for our youth, to bettering 
the lives of educators and to fighting for civil rights for workers, 
women and minorities.
  Feldman grew up poor in Brooklyn, NY. She credited the public schools 
and libraries for ``creating her future'' and instilling in her a love 
of education. She spent her entire life enriching the lives of others.
  In the 1960s, she fought for civil rights, participating in the 
Freedom Rides and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. She 
later became a leader in the protection of various workers' rights 
movements in New York, including representation of nurses and teachers. 
In 1997, Feldman became the president of the American Federation of 
Teachers, one of the largest unions representing our teachers in this 
country, with 1.3 million members, including 4,800 in Colorado,
  As president of the American Federation of Teachers, Ms. Feldman 
advocated for early childhood education, greater investment in public 
education and greater emphasis on high standards and accountability. 
Feldman was nationally recognized as a champion of universal preschool 
for young children, extended kindergarten for disadvantaged youngsters, 
and redesigning schools to promote academic achievement. Many of 
Feldman's proposals, which were implemented on the State and Federal 
level, positively changed the lives of youth.
  I commend and honor the life of Sandra Feldman, who stood and fought 
for civil rights, workers' rights, and education. She was the epitome 
of a public servant and we are all better because of her life. Sandra 
Feldman will be missed.

                          ____________________