Eliot Engel: “I rise to pay tribute to Sandra Feldman as she retires from the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and thank her for…”

“I rise to pay tribute to Sandra Feldman as she retires from the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and thank her for her valuable contributions to education and dedication to the teaching profession. As a former New York City school teacher and member of the United Federation of Teachers myself, I can personally attest to her strength of conviction and determination. Having known her for many years, it is also a great privilege to count her a personal friend. Throughout her career, Sandra Feldman became known as an authority on urban education and an advocate for children. No stranger to activism, she began her advocacy work during the 1960s civil rights movement. A former public school student herself, she then taught in one of New York City's public elementary schools. I had the privilege of working with Sandra Feldman when she was President of the United Federation of Teachers in New York City, the largest union local in the United States. She later took over as President of the American Federation of Teachers in 1997, leading its more than 1 million members.”