    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [August 13, 1999]
    [Page 1442]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Funding for Reading Programs
    August 13, 1999

        Today I am pleased to announce that the Department of Education is
    awarding $231 million in grants to help States, school districts, and
    communities help all of our children learn to read well. Reading is the
    building block for all learning. Nearly 40 percent of America's fourth
    graders, however, cannot read on their own. That is why my
    administration is working to ensure that every child can read
    independently by the end of the third grade. From working to reduce
    class size in the early grades to launching our American Reads program,
    this is an investment in our children and our future. Unfortunately, the
    Republican tax plan could force us to slash funding for this important
    initiative by as much as half in the years to come. Every one of us
    should do our part to help our children learn to read, and I call on
    Congress to put politics aside and put our children's future first.