[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 37 (Tuesday, March 3, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H2895-H2897]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY

  Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 146) designating March 2, 2009, as ``Read Across 
America Day.''
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.

[[Page H2896]]

  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 146

       Whereas reading is a basic requirement for quality 
     education and professional success, and is a source of 
     pleasure throughout life;
       Whereas the people of the United States must be able to 
     read if the United States is to remain competitive in the 
     global economy;
       Whereas Congress, through the No Child Left Behind Act of 
     2001 (Public Law 107-110) and the Reading First, Early 
     Reading First, and Improving Literacy Through School 
     Libraries programs, has placed great emphasis on reading 
     intervention and providing additional resources for reading 
     assistance; and
       Whereas more than 50 national organizations concerned about 
     reading and education have joined with the National Education 
     Association to use March 2 to celebrate reading and the birth 
     of Theodor Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) honors Theodor Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss, for his 
     success in encouraging children to discover the joy of 
     reading;
       (2) honors the 12th anniversary of Read Across America Day;
       (3) encourages parents to read with their children for at 
     least 30 minutes on Read Across America Day in honor of the 
     commitment of the House of Representatives to building a 
     Nation of readers; and
       (4) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
     the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Colorado (Mr. Polis) and the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado.


                             General Leave

  Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House 
Resolution 146 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Colorado?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. POLIS. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 146, which 
recognizes March 2, 2009, as Read Across America Day and encourages 
parents to read to their children for at least 30 minutes in support of 
building a Nation of readers.
  Read Across America Day was initiated in May of 1998 by the National 
Education Association as a way to celebrate reading. The NEA provides 
support to parents and teachers to keep their children reading all year 
long through activities such as the Cat-A-Van. The Cat-A-Van travels 
across the country bringing the gift of reading to school children. The 
Cat-A-Van donates 20,000 books to children in need.
  The NEA celebrates Read Across America Day on Dr. Seuss' birthday 
every year to honor a man who contributed tremendously to children's 
literacy. Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss by millions of 
children and parents around the world, began writing children's books 
in 1936 and has since inspired millions of children to embrace the joys 
of reading through such favorites as ``The Cat in the Hat, ``Green Eggs 
and Ham,'' and ``Oh the Places You'll Go.''
  We know from the research that children exposed to the nature and 
purpose of reading before kindergarten become more successful readers. 
We also know that a child who fails at reading is more likely to drop 
out of school.
  If the United States is to stay competitive in a global economy, we 
must possess these basic requirements for a quality education and 
professional success. Encouraging children to read is one of the best 
tools we can equip our children with to help them become successful 
contributors to the United States.
  I want to thank Representatives Markey and Ehlers for bringing this 
resolution forward, and I encourage my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 146 
designating March 2, 2009, as Read Across America Day. This celebration 
is held each year on the birthday of author Dr. Seuss. This year, Read 
Across America celebrates its 10th anniversary, and is also the 50th 
anniversary of Dr. Seuss' most recognizable work, ``The Cat in the 
Hat.''
  Theodor Geisel, more famously known as Dr. Seuss, is the most beloved 
children's book author of all time. His use of rhyme makes his books an 
effective tool for teaching young children the basic skills they need 
to be successful and develop a life-long love of reading. Celebrating 
Dr. Seuss and reading sends a clear message to our children that 
reading is both fun and important.
  In 2001, Congress and President Bush highlighted the importance of 
reading by passing the No Child Left Behind Act. Through programs 
authorized under the act, the Federal Government demonstrated the 
importance of reading intervention in providing additional resources 
for reading assistance; most notable was its commitment to the Reading 
First Program. Once the program was implemented, the data quickly 
showed that Reading First works. On average, the 26 States with early 
baseline data on reading achievement increased the percentage of 
students meeting or exceeding proficiency on fluency outcome measures. 
Among Wisconsin first graders, reading fluency proficiency increased by 
nearly 28 percent for economically disadvantaged students, more than 30 
percent for limited English proficient students, nearly 22 percent for 
students with disabilities, more than 22 percent for African American 
students, and nearly 23 percent for Hispanic students.
  States saw this improvement and made Reading First an integral 
opponent of their reform efforts. Reports by the Government 
Accountability Office, the Inspector General and the Center on 
Education Policy have all found widespread support for the program 
among the States. In one Center on Education Policy report, 97 percent 
of Reading First school districts said that the program was an 
important or very important cause for increases in students' reading 
scores.
  Despite these positive results, the new majority has, over the course 
of 2 years, decreased funding levels by $600 million in 2008 and 
completely eliminated funding for 2009. Individual States are beginning 
to voice their concern over the impact of lost Reading First funding. 
In fact, these cuts have led to such efforts as the Colorado State 
Board of Education passing a resolution expressing its support for 
Reading First model and its concern over the appropriations cut.

                              {time}  1245

  As we rightfully recognize another Read Across America Day, this 
Congress should begin the work of immediately restoring funding for 
this program that provides this Nation's most disadvantaged students 
the reading intervention and additional resources for reading 
assistance they so desperately need.
  I thank my colleague from Colorado (Ms. Markey) for sponsoring this 
resolution. And I ask that all of my colleagues support its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentlelady from 
my neighboring district in Colorado (Ms. Markey) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. I would like to thank the gentleman from 
Colorado.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today as an original cosponsor of House 
Resolution 146, which designates March 2, 2009, as ``Read Across 
America Day,'' and to urge my colleagues to vote in support of this 
legislation.
  Yesterday was the 105th anniversary of the birth of Theodor Seuss 
Geisel--or ``Dr. Seuss,'' as he is better known to generations of 
children. Between 1937 and 1991, Dr. Seuss published more than 40 
books. In fact, one in four American children receive Dr. Seuss as 
their first book.
  It's hard to quantify the powerful investment in a child's future the 
simple act of reading can be. And as any parent will tell you, our most 
treasured memories of our children lie in the precious moments before 
bedtime, carefully making our way through books that we hope will 
capture our son or daughter's imagination and attention. In fact, 
reading together can serve as childhood's best mile marker as simple 
lessons of ``Green Eggs and Ham'' give way to the more complicated 
worlds of Nancy Drew and Harry Potter. It is as if a parent can see the 
very foundation of a child's mind take root and grow.

[[Page H2897]]

  Dr. Seuss was one of the first to understand how a small spark of 
imagination early in life can lend itself in later years to great 
discovery and politics. ``The Cat in the Hat'' was originally 
commissioned in 1955 after it was found that children were being held 
back by boring books. Theodor Geisel introduced our kids to Marvin K. 
Mooney, to the Grinch, and to Cindy Lou Who, to Sam, who would not eat 
green eggs and ham, to the Yooks and the Zooks, who battled over which 
side of bread the butter is properly applied.
  It is easy, in these times that we find ourselves in, to forget how 
important it is that simple lessons endure. Even in the midst of these 
times, parents must remember to read to their children. And we must 
remember that it is often the lessons found in children's literature 
that mean the most later in life. After all, C.S. Lewis told us in the 
Chronicles of Narnia, ``For this is what it means to be king: to be the 
first in every desperate attack and last in every desperate retreat. 
And when there is hunger in the land (as must be now and then in bad 
years) to wear finer cloths and laugh louder over a scantier meal than 
any man in your land.'' And Dumbledore told us: ``There are all kinds 
of courage. It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to our 
enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.''
  Behind all those who struggle to achieve and endure lies a parent or 
a teacher who took the time to attend to a child's earliest education. 
Some of the happiest moments in my life were spent cuddled up with 
Katie, Erin and Al--my three kids, who seem to be racing towards 
adulthood with uncommon speed--reading our favorite books. They are 
moments I would not trade for anything in the world.
  So please vote ``yes'' on House Resolution 146 and remember the words 
of Dr. Seuss: ``You have brains in your head. You have feet in your 
shoes. And you can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're 
on your own. You know what you know. You're the guy who'll decide where 
you go.''
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  I am in strong support of Resolution 146. I urge all of my colleagues 
to support it. It's saddening to me, though, that at this time, when we 
are talking about reading and the importance of reading, how an 
administration that is spending so freely will continue to cut funds 
from a program that works very well for our young people to give them 
the reading first opportunity that they so deserve.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 146.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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