[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18167]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                LITERACY INVOLVES FAMILIES TOGETHER ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ANNE M. NORTHUP

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 14, 2000

  Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, the House passed H.R. 
3222, the Literacy Involves Families Together Act, otherwise known as 
the LIFT bill. Passage of this bill not only lifts our spirits, but it 
will help lift the level of excellence in our teachers, which will 
benefit our children.
  The LIFT program makes improvements to the Even Start Program. Even 
Start programs work with adults without GED or high school diploma and 
their children to break cycles of illiteracy. It also provides parents 
with the skills they need to be their child's teachers and most 
important advocate. Simply put, the LIFT bill stresses the need for 
teacher professional development, the use of scientific research, and 
expands the program so that faith-based programs may partner with the 
federal government to improve literacy skills throughout our 
communities.
  Earlier this year, Sharon Darling from the National Center for Family 
Literacy testified before the appropriations subcommittee about the 
disconnect between what we know from science about how children learn 
to read and what teachers practice. Many teachers have admitted their 
frustration about not being equipped with the latest information--they 
want training and additional professional development. That is why LIFT 
is so important. It allows states to use federal money to provide 
training and technical assistance to instructors in Even Start and 
other programs with a focus on family literacy. In addition to 
providing instruction, LIFT requires the use of instructional reading 
programs which are based on scientifically-based research. Thanks to 
our investments in the National Institutes of Health, we know how we 
can best teach children to read. This is especially important for 
children with learning disabilities.
  Understanding that children are not the only ones with learning 
difficulties, the LIFT bill funds research to find the most effective 
ways to improve literacy among adults with reading difficulties. We 
know that family literacy is a key component to our children being 
successful. The Even Start program has helped parents obtain their high 
school equivalency certificate. By understanding the importance of 
furthering their own education, parents are more inclined to become 
more involved in their child's education. The LIFT bill builds on the 
success of the Even Start program, improves the quality of the program, 
and holds states accountable for the progress of local literacy 
programs.
  This Congress is fortunate to have members like Congressman Bill 
Goodling to shepherd this bill to the floor. Bill has worked diligently 
to improve the quality of education programs, whether it is improving 
elementary school programs, helping disabled children, or working on 
adult education programs. Since my time in Congress, Bill and I have 
worked closely together to stress the importance of scientifically 
based reading research and to get that information in the hands of 
teachers and parents. He is a fine leader on education and we will miss 
him when he retires after this year. With the LIFT bill, our families 
can lift themselves up and achieve their dreams.

                          ____________________