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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 2, 2006
Contact: Giffords Campaign
520-512-0012

Another Statewide Teachers Group Endorses “Defender of Children” Gabrielle Giffords

TUCSON - The Arizona Federation of Teacher Unions has endorsed Gabrielle Giffords to be the next Congresswoman from Southern Arizona, citing her track record of improving our public schools. She has also been endorsed by the Arizona Education Association.

“Gabrielle Giffords has a proven track record of being a defender of children and our public schools,” said Terry Forthun, President of the Arizona Federation of Teacher Unions. “We are proud to support her campaign because we know she will continue to be a champion for children, teachers, and our public schools in Washington.”

“A strong America needs strong public schools. In order to compete in our global economy, we need a call to action to make our country’s school system the best in the world,” Giffords said. “I appreciate the support of the Arizona Federation of Teacher Unions and look forward to working with them in our campaign for a new direction in Washington.”

Gabrielle Giffords has a proven track record in the Arizona Legislature of defending children and public schools:

  • Giffords promoted public schools by sponsoring supplemental state aid through bonds (SB 1344, 2004).
  • Giffords fought for our schools by sponsoring tax credits that could be used for school supplies (SB 1355, 2003).
  • Giffords championed higher education in Arizona by sponsoring legislation to support our universities and community colleges with research infrastructure (HB 2529, in 2003) and technology support (HCR 2028, 2003).
  • Giffords fought to protect children by sponsoring the “Stranger Danger” bill (SB 1289, 2005), allowing all school districts and charter schools to instruct students on the dangers of unsupervised interaction with strangers.
  • Thanks to her support of reading in the curriculum, Giffords was awarded Arizona Family Literacy’s Outstanding Legislator for 2003.

Giffords has been endorsed by a broad coalition of educators, law enforcement, labor, environmentalists, women’s rights groups, and equal rights organizations:

  • Arizona Education Association
  • Arizona Federation of Teacher Unions
  • National Education Association
  • AFL-CIO
  • Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona
  • Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs (AZCOPS), Local 7077
  • AFSCME - American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees
  • Arizona Police Association
  • Tucson Fire Fighters Association, Local 479
  • Arizona State Council of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
  • Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
  • International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
  • Associated Highway Patrolmen of Arizona
  • United Brotherhood of Carpenters of America (Southwest Regional Council)
  • United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 99
  • United Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 104
  • Communications Workers of America, Local 7000
  • The Sierra Club
  • The League of Conservation Voters
  • Las Adelitas
  • EMILY’s List
  • The Human Rights Campaign
  • Democracy for America (DFA) - Sierra Vista
  • Midtown Youth Development Programs

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