The New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) has endorsed North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, as their congressional candidate in the North Country’s 21st District.

Stefanik will be opposed in the race by Mike Derrick, D-Peru, and Green Party candidate Matt Funiciello of Glens Falls.

NYSUT says they chose Stefankik for “her strong, bipartisan record on North Country education issues.”

"I am incredibly honored to receive the endorsement from New York State United Teachers,” said Stefanik. “I look forward to continuing my work on education issues on behalf of our North Country students, teachers, and parents.”

“We have also made great strides in higher education reform to make college more affordable and accessible to all continuing their education at the highest level.”

Congresswoman Stefanik is a member of the Education and the Workforce Committees, serving on the subcommittees on Higher Education & Workforce Training and Workforce Protections.

Stefanik sponsored the Flexible Pell Grant for 21st Century Students Act, which allows students to draw Pell Grants at an accelerated pace for additional courses within a given award year.

She voted for and helped pass the Every Student Succeeds Act, which was signed into law last year. The law reauthorizes K-12 schools focusing on greater local control, reforming teacher evaluations, and reigning in Common Core.

Stefanik also cosponsored the Higher Education Extension Act of 2015, which extended the Perkins Loan program through Fiscal Year 2016.