[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Pages 21477-21478]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE LIFE OF SANDRA FELDMAN

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 256, which was submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 256) honoring the life of Sandra 
     Feldman.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I extend my deepest sympathies to the 
family and friends of Sandy Feldman at her untimely passing. We have 
lost a dedicated educator, a proud labor leader, a committed reformer, 
and someone my wife Teresa, and I were so proud to have as a friend in 
our lives.
  From her early days as a civil rights advocate, Sandy had an 
unshakeable sense of justice and fairness. Sandy did not just talk 
about helping teachers and their students--she actually did it. While 
her career spanned more than four decades, Sandy's commitment grew out 
of her early work in the civil rights movement. An advocate for civil 
rights and social justice, she was an activist in the Freedom Rides and 
the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. It was her firsthand 
knowledge of the power of an excellent teacher that led Sandy to a 
lifetime of activism. Sandy understood the importance of quality public 
education and the wealth of opportunities it can unleash for every 
student, regardless of who they are or where they're from.
  ``Created my future,'' that is what Sandy always said about growing 
up in Brooklyn and the public schools and libraries she spent her 
childhood in. Sandy's commitment to education was fueled by her 
childhood experiences and her dedication to bettering the lives of 
students and teachers. Beginning as a second grade teacher, Sandy 
quickly became a union activist when she led the teachers at her 
elementary school to organize. In 1986, Sandy became president of AFT's 
largest affiliate, New York City's United Federation of Teachers, UFT. 
During her years as UFT president and then since 1997 when she became 
president of the AFT, Sandy earned the respect of Presidents, of her 
colleagues, and of many of us in Congress.
  Calling early childhood education ``getting it right from the 
start,'' Sandy consistently called for greater investment in public 
education and a greater emphasis on high standards and increased 
accountability. Sandy's focus on early childhood education led her to 
introduce a program that would provide extended learning opportunities 
for disadvantaged students before and after the normal kindergarten 
school year. Within a few years,

[[Page 21478]]

Sandy's program, Kindergarten-Plus, had been introduced as Federal 
legislation, passed or considered in several State legislatures, and 
passed into law in at least one State.
  My hope is that her tragic passing after a courageous battle with 
cancer will inspire all of us to do just what Sandy fought her entire 
life for--to make sure we are getting it right from the start and to 
stand by our children and our teachers. Sandy was an amazing American. 
I will miss her wisdom and her counsel very much. Our hearts go out to 
her husband Arthur and their family in this difficult time.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 256) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 256

       Whereas Sandra Feldman was born Sandra Abramowitz in 
     October, 1939, to blue-collar parents living in a tenement in 
     Coney Island, New York;
       Whereas Sandra Feldman, while at James Madison High School, 
     Brooklyn College, and New York University, began a life-long 
     dedication to education, both in the United States and 
     abroad;
       Whereas Sandra Feldman began her career by teaching fourth 
     grade at Public School 34 on the Lower East Side of New York 
     City;
       Whereas during her service as union leader at Public School 
     34, Sandra Feldman became employed by the United Federation 
     of Teachers in New York City, and was elected president in 
     1986, after 20 years of service;
       Whereas Sandra Feldman's tenure as president of the United 
     Federation of Teachers was distinguished by her devotion to 
     better working conditions for the teachers she represented;
       Whereas in 1997, the American Federation of Teachers 
     elected Sandra Feldman to serve as their president, until she 
     retired 7 years later;
       Whereas Sandra Feldman effectively represented the 
     educators, healthcare professionals, public employees, and 
     retirees who made up the membership of the American 
     Federation of Teachers;
       Whereas Sandra Feldman was a tireless advocate for public 
     education, working with President George W. Bush on the No 
     Child Left Behind Act of 2001 to improve accountability 
     standards and provide increased resources to schools to help 
     increasing professional development to better equip teachers 
     to instruct students, and using research-driven methods to 
     redesign school programs;
       Whereas Sandra Feldman was equally devoted to promoting the 
     rights of public servants, fighting against discrimination, 
     raising the nursing shortage into national public awareness, 
     advocating for smaller class sizes and patient-to-nurse 
     ratios promoting increased benefits and compensation for 
     workers, and spreading her message beyond her own membership 
     by advocating for workers overseas as well;
       Whereas Sandra Feldman lent her expertise to both the 
     national and international labor movements in her capacities 
     as a member of the AFL-CIO executive council and a vice 
     president of Education International; and
       Whereas Sandra Feldman succumbed on September 18, 2005, to 
     a difficult struggle against breast cancer at the age of 65: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) mourns the loss of Sandra Feldman, a vibrant and 
     dedicated public servant;
       (2) recognizes the contributions of Sandra Feldman to 
     public education;
       (3) expresses its deepest condolences to those who knew and 
     loved Sandra Feldman; and
       (4) directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit an 
     enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of Sandra 
     Feldman.

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