[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17812]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING THE OAKLAND LITERACY COUNCIL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 8, 2004

  Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, today in America, nearly 1 in 5 
adult Americans functions at the lowest literacy level. I rise today to 
recognize an outstanding organization in Southeast Michigan that is 
making tremendous strides in the fight against adult illiteracy. The 
Oakland Literacy Council delivers quality individualized basic reading 
and English language instruction to Oakland County, Michigan adults, 
many of whom are English as a second language students.
  Since its inception in 1984, the Oakland Literacy Council has 
contributed more than 527,000 hours of instruction to 7,000 adults. The 
Literacy Councils' free service has been valued at over $13.2 million. 
In 2003 alone, 400 volunteers donated 43,920 hours of their time to 
give 450 Oakland County residents the literacy skills necessary for a 
new job, a high school diploma, or just to read a bedtime story to 
their children.
  Mr. Speaker, the Oakland Literacy Council showcases the very best of 
America's generosity. Besides the thousands of hours of donated time, 
the Literacy Council is entirely supported by public and private 
donations to offer free tutoring to all of its students. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in recognizing the outstanding service the 
Oakland Literacy Council, and its gracious donors and volunteers, have 
provided to Southeastern Michigan.

                          ____________________