[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 21802]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING GRAMMY WINNER AND COUNTRY MUSIC RECORDING ARTIST GRETCHEN 
                                 WILSON

  (Mrs. BLACKBURN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to 
join me in honoring Grammy winner and country music recording artist 
Gretchen Wilson as she receives the 2009 National Coalition for 
Literacy Leadership Award. This multi-platinum, acclaimed singer/
songwriter was one of millions of Americans who had not finished her 
high school education.
  Gretchen left high school to pursue her music career, and has since 
had three number one albums. She realized, as a mother, it was 
important for her to lead by example and to demonstrate to her daughter 
just how important it is to have an education. So last year, at the age 
of 34, Gretchen earned her GED. She is teaming up with the Dollar 
General Literacy Foundation to honor GED graduates and organizations 
dedicated to the achievement of literacy.
  I congratulate Gretchen on her hard work, on her resilience and on 
her many notable achievements. I ask my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing her dedication and contributions to adult education and 
literacy awareness.

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