[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3246]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY

  (Mr. CUMMINGS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Read Across 
America Day. The National Education Association, partnering with some 
of the Nation's leading literacy education and community groups, is 
calling for every child and every community in America to celebrate 
reading today.
  Reading is critically important as a platform for future learning. As 
a father of a 4-year-old, I enjoy the positive emotional charge of our 
reading experience as she soaks in every word and picture. We are 
forming her pre-reading skills, and she will enter school prepared to 
read.
  Unfortunately, there are thousands of children in America who do not 
have their parents reading to them. Responsible adults must fill this 
gap for the sake of all of our children.
  It is important that this Congress do all that it can to support and 
further child development from the rural communities of the heartland 
to the inner city of Baltimore, my home district. Today is a perfect 
opportunity to help all of our children reach their full potential.

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