[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18064]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PATRICK J. TIBERI

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 8, 2008

  Mr. TIBERI. Madam Speaker, today we commemorate International 
Literacy Day, a day that provides us an opportunity to assess the 
status of literacy and adult learning both in our country and around 
the world.
  While much progress has been made since the first Literacy Day 42 
years ago, much remains to be done. According to United Nations 
estimates, some 774 million adults lack minimum literacy skills. One in 
five adults is still not literate and two-thirds of them are women.
  Fortunately, there are countless organizations and individuals 
dedicated to ensuring that every man, woman and child has an 
opportunity to learn basic skills. In my home state, the Ohio Literacy 
Network has been meeting the needs of adult learners for 21 years. 
Since its inception in 1987, the network has played a leading role in 
promoting awareness of adult literacy needs, advocating on behalf of 
adult learners and service providers, encouraging public-private 
literacy efforts and facilitating the exchange of literacy information. 
In short, the Ohio Literacy Network is dedicated to building stronger 
communities by providing opportunities to any adult wanting to learn 
basic literacy skills.
  I salute the Ohio Literacy Network, and similar organizations 
throughout the world, as they man the front lines in the battle to 
better the lives of individuals by improving their basic skills.

                          ____________________