Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize an amazing organization headquartered in my south Florida district, Alfalit International. Alfalit is a faith-based nonprofit organization that provides education for the world's poorest people. Alfalit offers many programs--basic education, preschool, nutrition, microcredit, and community development--but its core mission is to eliminate the human suffering caused by illiteracy. Alfalit is active in 24 countries, in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and in Portugal. As you would see from these posters here, Mr. Speaker, these are the volunteers and the many participants in Alfalit literacy programs throughout the world. Since its founding in 1961, 7 million individuals have had their lives transformed by Alfalit because it also provides comprehensive health programs that focus on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and cholera prevention. This year marks its 50th year of service to the world's most vulnerable population, 50 years of empowering individuals through literacy. It is an impressive achievement, and yet Alfalit knows that there is still much more to be done. Worldwide, 774 million adults lack the ability to read and write. Think of that staggering number--774 million adults. That is one in five adults throughout the world who are illiterate, with two-thirds of them being women. In addition, 75 million children have never had the opportunity to go to school, and many attend infrequently or they decide to drop out.…”