[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 134 (Tuesday, August 27, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E847-E848]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE SUCCESS OF DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY IN THE 
                           STATE OF MISSOURI

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 27, 2024

  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the 
success of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in the State of Missouri. 
This new initiative increases literacy and education among our state's 
youth and will foster an invaluable love of reading for our state's 
precious youth. I express my deepest gratitude to Dolly Parton and the 
State of Missouri for bringing this program to the youngest 
constituents in my district.
  Dolly Parton's Imagination Library delivers books monthly to 
children's homes from their birth until their fifth birthday. For the 
children and their families receiving the books, the program is 
completely free. In Missouri, this program thrives thanks to the 
generosity of Dolly, nearly 60 affiliates and legislation passed by the 
state to establish and administer Dolly Parton's Imagination Library 
for all children in Missouri 0 to 5 years old.
  In 1995, Dolly Parton--already an award-winning and chart-topping 
artist--established an Imagination Library in her home county in 
Tennessee, inspired by her father who could not read. Since then, the 
program boasts recipients from five countries around the world. As of 
this year, it has delivered over 250 million books to over 3 million 
young children. Dolly is an incredible philanthropist, and her record 
of community service is as vast and acclaimed as her career as an 
international musical phenomenon. We are thankful to have our very own 
Imagination Library here to continue inspiring future generations of 
leaders through literacy.
  Though Dolly Parton's Imagination Library has been an ``Unlikely 
Angel'' in helping our state advance early childhood literacy, the 
establishment of the Missouri Imagination Library

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ensures that in terms of having young children eager to read, there's 
``More Where That Came From''. I am grateful for Dolly Parton's 
Imagination Library and promise to continue doing ``All I Can Do'' to 
advance this noble cause--even if it means working past ``9 to 5''. 
After all, there is little else more important than instilling a love 
for reading within the minds of children.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the 
impact and service that Dolly Parton's Imagination Library will 
continue to have in Missouri's Fifth Congressional District and the 
rest of the ``Show-Me'' State. I speak with the voice of Missouri's 
entire Fifth Congressional District as we say a heartfelt ``thank you'' 
to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library as we celebrate and congratulate 
them on all their current achievements and those to come.

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