[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 15 (Thursday, January 25, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S1199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 41--HONORING AND THE LIFE AND RECOGNIZING THE 
  ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF TOM MOONEY, PRESIDENT OF THE OHIO FEDERATION OF 
                                TEACHERS

  Mr. BROWN submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                               S. Res. 41

       Whereas Tom Mooney graduated from Antioch College in Yellow 
     Springs, Ohio, before becoming a high school government 
     teacher in Cincinnati in 1974;
       Whereas Mr. Mooney became a passionate advocate for 
     teachers and public education;
       Whereas Mr. Mooney served as the president of the 
     Cincinnati Federation of Teachers, as the vice president of 
     the American Federation of Teachers, and on the American 
     Federation of Teachers's executive council;
       Whereas during his 21 years as president of the Cincinnati 
     Federation of Teachers, Mr. Mooney worked to establish a 
     teacher evaluation system;
       Whereas, in 2000, Mr. Mooney was elected to lead the Ohio 
     Federation of Teachers;
       Whereas Mr. Mooney led the Ohio Federation of Teachers, 
     which represents more than 20,000 members, including public 
     education employees, higher education faculty and support 
     staff, and other public employees, for 6 years;
       Whereas during his tenure as president of the Ohio 
     Federation of Teachers, Mr. Mooney endeavored to strengthen 
     the teaching profession and to improve the working 
     environment for all school employees, while also encouraging 
     parental involvement to ensure a high-quality public 
     education for all children;
       Whereas Mr. Mooney was a tireless advocate for Ohio's 
     public education system and opposed efforts to privatize 
     educational services for limited numbers of children because 
     these attempts at privatization came at the expense of the 
     vast majority of students who attend public schools in the 
     State;
       Whereas, on December 3, 2006, Ohio and the Nation felt a 
     great loss with the sudden death of Mr. Mooney; and
       Whereas Mr. Mooney will be remembered as a fearless union 
     leader and for his true dedication to improving the quality 
     of public education: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate honors the life and recognizes 
     the achievements of Tom Mooney, who exemplified dedication 
     to, and true advocacy for, children and public education, 
     while also gaining a deserved reputation as an articulate and 
     forceful labor union activist.

  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I am honored to recognize the life and 
accomplishments of Tom Mooney, the former president of the Ohio 
Federation of Teachers. Tom graduated from Antioch College in Yellow 
Springs, OH, then devoted himself to ensuring a quality education for 
the children of Ohio.
  In his distinguished tenure as an educator and administrator, Tom 
served in a number of capacities. He started in 1974 as a high school 
government teacher. Later Tom would serve as president of the 
Cincinnati Federation of Teachers, as vice president of the American 
Federation of Teachers and finally as the president of the Ohio 
Federation of Teachers, a post he held for six years until his passing.
  Tom Mooney was a passionate advocate for teachers and public 
education. He worked tirelessly. He encouraged parental involvement in 
the education of their children and vehemently opposed efforts to 
privatize educational services, as he believed it would be detrimental 
to the vast majority of Ohio's public school students.
  Tom exemplified dedication to--and true advocacy for--children and 
public education. I am honored to offer this resolution and pay tribute 
to a great Ohioan and a great American.




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