[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 100 (Thursday, July 27, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1377]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            INTRODUCTION OF THE BOOK STAMP ACT JULY 27, 2000

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                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 27, 2000

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, in this new century, an education is more 
important to Americans than ever before in our nation's history. We 
have progressed from the agricultural-based economy of our forefathers 
to one that is knowledge-based and dependent on information and 
communications technology.
  Today, in order to succeed and even just to function in this new 
economy, Americans must have a solid education and foundation of 
skills. In addition, Americans must be equipped with the skills 
necessary to continue learning. They must be prepared to survive in a 
world of rapid social and technological change.
  Literacy is the primary tool needed for lifelong learning. It opens 
up doors to new opportunities and experiences.
  Yet, today, too many Americans are unable to read a single sentence. 
In fact, nearly 40 percent of our nation's children cannot read at 
grade-level by the end of the third grade. In disadvantaged 
communities, this failure rate is a shocking 60 percent. Without the 
basic skill of literacy, these children are likely to fall to the 
wayside in our new economy.
  We must combat illiteracy. However, we cannot wait until these 
children start school; we must reach them earlier. We should eagerly 
seek to give these children the excitement, the satisfaction, the 
empowerment, and the impetus for growth that comes from reading.
  Studies have confirmed that reading to young children in the years 
before age 5 has a profound effect on their ability to learn. Doctors 
have told us that a child's brain needs intellectual stimulation to 
grow to its full potential, so we must read to our children from birth 
through school age. But many families do not have access to children's 
books. A recent study found that 60 percent of kindergarten children 
who performed poorly in school did not own a single book.
  The Book Stamp Act, which I am introducing today along with my 
colleagues Mr. Upton, Mr. Andrews, Mr. Miller, Mr. Owens, Mr. Payne, 
and Mr. Romero-Barcelo, and which was recently introduced in the Senate 
by Senators Kennedy and Hutchison, will help provide children with 
their own books before they enter school.
  The act authorizes an appropriation of $50 million a year for this 
purpose. It also creates a special postage stamp, which will feature an 
early learning character and which will sell at a slightly higher rate 
than the normal 33 cents, to create additional revenues for the Book 
Stamp Program.
  The resources will be distributed through the Child Care and 
Development Block Grant to the state child care agency in each state. 
The state agency then will allocate its funds to local child care 
research and referral agencies throughout the state on the basis of 
local need.
  These non-profit agencies will work with established book 
distribution programs such as First Book, Reading is Fundamental, and 
Reach Out and Read to coordinate the buying of discounted books and the 
distribution of the books to children.
  However, since these young children cannot read on their own. These 
agencies will also work with parents and child care providers to 
educate them on the best ways to read to children and the most 
effective use of books with children at various stages of development.
  Illiteracy is a serious problem. For our Nation to continue to thrive 
in this new century, we must ensure that all children have the ability 
to read and learn. The Book Stamp Act will help achieve this goal.
  I urge all of my colleagues to join me in support of this bill.

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