[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 9] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 13213] [From the U.S. 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. ____________________