[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 151 (Tuesday, September 20, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E956]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   SEPTEMBER CONSTITUENT OF THE MONTH

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                            HON. MIKE LEVIN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 20, 2022

  Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize 
Edward Becerra as my September Constituent of the Month. As we begin 
another school year, we must continue to support and uplift the work of 
local community leaders who are going above and beyond to help our 
region thrive. During the pandemic, many kids fell behind on key 
educational markers, including literacy. Edward's work with Education 
Begins in the Home is critical to ensuring all families in my District 
have access to age-appropriate books for their children.
  Edward's program, Education Begins in the Home, aims to increase 
literacy in the Latino community through access to free books. The 
program is one of several under non-profit Empowering Latino Futures, 
whose mission is to remove barriers to educational and professional 
success for Latino communities. He started Education Begins in the Home 
in May of 2015 after learning that 60 percent of low-income families in 
the county at the time did not own a book at home according to the San 
Diego Council on Literacy. To address this problem, Edward partners 
with community organizations to gather books and hosts `book sorting 
parties' with volunteers to later distribute them in the community. 
Since its founding, his program has hosted 700 events and distributed 
176,500 free books to children in North County San Diego. I'm proud 
that my office was able to secure books for Edward's program through 
the Library of Congress Surplus Books program.
  During Hispanic Heritage Month, I am proud to uplift Edward Becerra 
and other Latino voices who contribute to our unique and diverse 
district. I'm so grateful for CA-49 residents who dedicate their time 
to the betterment of our community, and I'm proud to honor Edward 
Becerra as my September Constituent of the Month.

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