[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 145 (Thursday, October 8, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2501]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      SUPPORTING NATIONAL ADULT EDUCATION AND FAMILY LITERACY WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. DANIEL B. MAFFEI

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 6, 2009

  Mr. MAFFEI. Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of House 
Resolution 707, expressing support for the week of September 13, 2009, 
as Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. Syracuse, NY, in my 
district, is considered the ``home'' of the adult literacy movement. It 
was in Syracuse that Dr. Frank Laubach established Laubach Literacy 
International to combat this ever growing problem. In my district, 
ProLiteracy continues the fight to encourage adult literacy in order to 
improve the lives of adults, their families and communities. 
ProLiteracy, the world's largest organization of adult literacy and 
basic education programs, provides advocacy, professional development, 
training, technical assistance, and materials to the programs that help 
adults learn to read, write, perform basic math, use technology, and 
communicate in English.
  Fourteen percent of adults nationwide cannot read at an 8th grade 
level, that number rises to twenty two percent of adults in the state 
of New York. The ability to read is a key component for overcoming 
poverty, maintaining good health, finding a job that pays a living wage 
and preventing crime. Almost 63 percent of all inmates in state and 
federal prisons are almost totally illiterate.
  For example, Carl Sodeberg from Minneapolis, Minnesota had a learning 
disability that made it difficult for him to read. When Carl was in 
high school, he was called to the front of the classroom to read 
something from the blackboard. When students and the teacher mocked 
him, Carl lashed out at the teacher verbally and was suspended from 
school. He never went back. Over the next 20 years Carl found himself 
in and out of work. He developed a drug problem and ended up in jail. 
When he finally realized he needed to learn to read, Carl was in his 
mid-40's. Carl worked with an adult literacy program in his community--
he learned to read, earned his high school diploma, and then went on to 
get a paraprofessional's license that enables him to work as a 
teacher's aide. He's now employed by the high school from which he was 
suspended, working with students who have fallen behind in their 
studies due to reading problems.
  It is stories such as Carl Sodeberg's that remind us the importance 
of encouraging adult literacy and the mission of organizations like 
ProLiteracy. I encourage other Members to join me in supporting H. Res. 
707 to designate the week of September 13 Adult Education and Family 
Literacy Week.

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