[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 30 (Tuesday, March 11, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E435]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORABLE MENTION AWARDED BY READING IS FUNDAMENTAL

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                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 11, 1997

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Abigail 
Bauman, a 7-year-old second grader in Sciota, PA. Abigail is a student 
at Hamilton Elementary in Sciota.
  Abigail was one of 41 honorable mentions in this year's poster 
contest sponsored by Reading is Fundamental [RIF]. Abigail's poster was 
chosen out of over 300,000 entries.
  The theme of this year's National Poster Contest was ``Read! 
Imagine!'' Abigail's poster showed a tremendous effort to display this 
message to the youth of America. Her efforts in this endeavor earned 
her a commemorative certificate along with a dictionary and gift books.
  In this year's State of the Union Address, President Clinton touched 
on the importance of literacy in America. Teaching children to read at 
a young age, and getting them interested in books is fundamental to 
improving literacy in the United States. Using posters as a tool to 
achieve this is a creative vehicle to do so, avidly conveyed through 
Abigail's drawing.
  It is essential for our children to read and love books if they are 
to compete, as well as excel in tomorrow's world. The key to the high 
paying jobs and opportunities of tomorrow is for each and every 
American citizen to be able to read.
  Aibigail's colorful poster helps to make reading more fun and 
interesting for elementary school children. I contgratulate her on 
using art to communicate such an important message.

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