Joe Wilson: “this August during an annual district bus tour, I will have the opportunity to read aloud to children participating in…”

“this August during an annual district bus tour, I will have the opportunity to read aloud to children participating in the Reach Out and Read program. Reach Out and Read is a nonprofit organization that partners with medical institutions to promote a partnership between early childhood literacy and pediatric care. The organization trains doctors and nurses in the importance of early literacy. During checkups, each child age 6 months to 5 years is given a new book, and parents are encouraged to read aloud to them. As of June 2006, there were nearly 3,000 Reach Out and Read programs nationwide, benefiting 2.5 million children annually. As a member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, ably led by Chairman Buck McKeon, I am all too aware of the school readiness issues facing our Nation. Organizations such as Reach Out and Read are to be commended for their efforts to prepare better our Nation's children for success at school and in life. In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11. ____________________”