AFT’s Weingarten on Congressional Resolutions Celebrating AFT’s 100th Anniversary

WASHINGTON—“We are honored by the resolution to be introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, as it recognizes that our members have dedicated their lives to creating opportunity for children, their families and their communities for the last 100 years, regardless of their demography or their geography. We have championed democracy and fairness and fought for economic and racial justice. We have helped our public schools become centers of the communities they serve. And we have given children the opportunity to dream their dreams and to achieve them.

“I am proud that every day, our members work to break down barriers and expand opportunity. Our union has always believed that if you work hard, you should be able to get ahead. That’s the essence of the American dream, after all. Yet for most of our history, the promise of America has been unfulfilled—indeed, unattainable—for far too many people.

“We know we have more work to do to reclaim the promise of America. Our members are working to make that promise a reality—not just on the job, but at the ballot box and the bargaining table—so every family has a fair chance to achieve the American dream.

“As we look ahead to our next 100 years, we will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder, honoring our past and inspiring the future to reclaim the promise of America.”