PROVIDE AID TO VICTIMS OF HURRICANES, WILDFIRES AND MUDSLIDES

WHEREAS, the United States and its neighbors in the Caribbean have been hammered by natural disasters during the last 12 months, including hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, which caused widespread devastation in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands, as well as wildfires and mudslides in California; and

WHEREAS, the destruction from hurricanes, wildfires and storms upturned the lives of millions of people, many of whom live in underserved or poverty-stricken communities, and many people still remain homeless, without power, safe drinking water and basic infrastructures provided by government; and

WHEREAS, wildfires in California have destroyed thousands of homes, uprooted thousands of people and caused billions of dollars in damage; and

WHEREAS, Puerto Rico’s capacity for long-term disaster recovery is impaired by an ongoing financial crisis related to the staggering debt owed by the government, in large part due to exploitative practices by vulture hedge funds; and

WHEREAS, teachers unions have consistently helped their communities in times of trouble; and

WHEREAS, the American Federation of Teachers spearheaded a massive relief operation, Operation Agua, to bring water filters to classrooms, communities, and individual homes and families in Puerto Rico, and AFT members and other unionists have generously donated time and money to relief efforts in Puerto Rico, where our sister local, the Asociación de Maestros de Puerto Rico, is also working tirelessly to help students and their families:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association will continue to work with their locals to raise funds for communities affected by these and other natural disasters.