Political Quotes

“today I introduce with my colleague, Senator Grassley, the Prescribe a Book Act. I thank Senators Begich, Blumenthal, Collins, Kerry, Lautenberg, Sanders, Stabenow, and Whitehouse for joining us as original cosponsors of this bipartisan bill. Our legislation would create a federal pediatric early literacy grant initiative based on the long-standing, successful Reach Out and Read program. The program would award grants on a competitive basis to high-quality non-profit entities to train doctors and nurses in advising parents about the importance of reading aloud and to give books to children at pediatric check-ups from 6 months to 5 years of age, with a priority for children from low-income families. It builds on the relationship between parents and medical providers and helps families and communities encourage early literacy skills so children enter school prepared for success in reading. Since fiscal year 2000, Federal funding for Reach Out and Read through the Department of Education has been an essential piece of a successful public-private partnership that has been matched by tens of millions of dollars from the private sector and State governments. This funding has supported the training of nearly 50,000 health care providers in literacy promotion, and the operation of programs in more than 4,100 clinics and hospitals nationwide, including the 40 sites that operate in Rhode Island.”