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A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 27 May 2022
U.S. education chief seeks action to prevent school shootings

WASHINGTON (AP) — Edu- President Joe Biden, who in
cation Secretary Miguel an emotional address said
Cardona said Thursday Tuesday, "When in God's
he is ashamed the United name are we going to
States is "becoming de- stand up to the gun lobby?"
sensitized to the murder of Biden previously had called
children" and that action for a ban on assault-style
is needed now to prevent weapons, tougher fed-
more lives from being lost eral background check
in school shootings like the requirements and laws
one in Uvalde, Texas. aimed at keeping guns out
Cardona spoke at a House of the hands of people with
Education and Labor Com- mental health problems.
mittee hearing two days af- The fight over guns has
ter a gunman armed with been split largely on party
an AR-15-style rifle stormed lines. Senate Republicans
into an elementary school on Thursday blocked a
and killed 19 children and domestic terrorism bill that
two teachers. The massa- would have opened de-
cre, which followed the fa- bate on gun safety.
tal of shootings of 10 peo- Rather than regulate guns,
ple this month at a Buffalo, some Republicans have
New York, grocery store, proposed arming teachers
has revived the debate Education Secretary Miguel Cardona speaks during the 2022 National and State Teachers of the to deter school shootings.
over gun control. Year event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, April 27, 2022. Cardona rejected that.
On Thursday, the commit- Associated Press "And the solution of arm-
tee chairman, Rep. Bobby ing teachers, in my opin-
Scott, D-Va., opened the other massacres, we as ed- tion tools and more secure that he would be "failing ion, is further disrespect to
hearing by holding a mo- ucators did our best to look building entrances and pe- you as secretary of educa- a profession that's already
ment of silence in memory parents in their eyes and rimeters — "are no match tion if I didn't tell you I was beleaguered and not feel-
of those who had died in assure them that we'll do for what we're up against." ashamed, I am, that we as ing the support of so many
Texas. everything to protect their Providing no specifics, he a country are becoming folks," he said.
While the hearing was on babies," Cardona said, ref- said, "we need action now" desensitized to the murder Scott, in his opening re-
the Education Depart- erencing school shootings to protect America's chil- of children. I'd be failing marks, called school shoot-
ment's budget and pri- in Colorado, Connecticut dren. "Let's not normalize you as secretary of educa- ings "too common of an
orities, Cardona started his and Florida. this," he said. "Let's use ev- tion if I didn't use this plat- occurrence" in America.
testimony by addressing But he said all the actions ery ounce of influence that form to say that students "We could have prevented
the shooting. taken in response to those we have to get something and teachers and school a lot of these if elected
"After Columbine, after earlier school shootings — done to help prevent this leaders are scared." leaders valued children
Sandy Hook, after Parkland, including active shooter from happening again." The Cabinet member did and families more than
after each of these and drills, online early detec- Cardona told lawmakers not go as far as his boss, guns," he said. q
Planned Parenthood workers in 5 Midwest states seek union

ing majority support for Biden administration has turnover due to exhaustion
unionization, and on Thurs- been supportive of efforts and burnout, and a feeling
day they formally filed for to expand unions, and or- that management doesn't
a union election with the ganizers have worked to always listen to worker con-
National Labor Relations establish unions at com- cerns.
Board, said Ashley Schmidt, panies including Amazon, "Unfortunately, I have
a training and develop- Starbucks, outdoors retail- seen many of these peo-
ment specialist for Nebras- er REI and Google parent ple move on after their
ka and western Iowa. company Alphabet. ideas and concerns went
They plan to join SEIU The Planned Parenthood unheard by the execu-
Healthcare Minnesota & workers seeking to join the tive team for far too long.
Iowa, an affiliate of the union in the Midwest in- Across our affiliate both
Service Employees Inter- clude nurses, education clinical and administrative
national Union that has outreach workers, commu- staff are overworked, un-

Demonstrators hold a vigil against Planned Parenthood in Oma- about 1 million members nity organizers and other derpaid and undervalued,"
ha, Neb., April 14, 2011. in 29 states, including doc- nonmanagement employ- said Sadie Brewer, a regis-
Associated Press tors, nurses and laboratory ees at 28 clinics in the five tered nurse who provides
technicians. SEIU locals rep- states. They provide ser- abortion services at a St.
By DAVID PITT tions may become illegal resent Planned Parenthood vices such as reproductive Paul, Minnesota, clinic.
Associated Press if the U.S. Supreme Court workers in other regions, in- care, cancer screening Molly Gage, a human re-
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) overturns the landmark cluding those serving Ore- and abortions. sources vice president
— About 400 workers at 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling. gon and Washington, New On a call with reporters for Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood offic- Workers for Planned Parent- York, and Washington, D.C. Thursday, employees dis- North Central States, said
es in five states said Thurs- hood North Central States Union organizing in a vari- cussed concerns about the organization prioritizes
day they plan to unionize in Iowa, Minnesota, Ne- ety of fields has gained mo- unequal pay for similar autonomy and choice in
as their employer deals with braska, North Dakota and mentum recently after a positions in different loca- people's personal lives and
the potential loss of busi- South Dakota said they decades of decline in union tions, lower pay than other respects that same right for
ness in states where abor- have signed cards show- membership in the U.S. The health care providers, high workers.q