Expressing support for designation of October 8, 2009, as national Jumpstart's "Read for the Record Day".

Madam Speaker. I rise before you today in support of H. Res. 741, ``Expressing support for designation of October 8, 2009, as national Jumpstart's `Read for the Record Day,' '' I would like thank my colleague, Representative Markey, for introducing this resolution, as well as the co-sponsors.

As the resolution states, Jumpstart is a national early education organization, which is working to ensure that all children in the United States enter school prepared to succeed. Year-round, Jumpstart recruits and trains college students and community volunteers to work with preschool children in low-income communities, helping them to develop the language, literacy, and social skills they need to succeed in school and in life.

Since 1993, Jumpstart has engaged nearly 21,000 adults to serve almost 80,000 young children in communities across the Nation. Jumpstart's Read for the Record, presented in partnership with the Pearson Foundation, is an annual campaign, now in its fourth year, that brings national attention to the crisis in early education by organizing the world's largest shared reading experience.

The goals of the campaign are to raise national awareness about the importance of early education by engaging one million children reading the same book on the same day, provide books to children in low-income households through donations and book purchases and sponsorship, and raise money to help bring Jumpstart to more children to prepare them for school success. Jumpstart hopes to engage more than one million children to read ``The Very Hungry Caterpillar'' in this record- breaking celebration of reading, service, and fun, all in support of the Nation's preschoolers.

I join this body in supporting the designation of ``Read for the Record Day,'' and agree that October 8, 2009, is the date Jumpstart aims to set a new world record for the world's largest

shared reading experience, and, as such, is a perfect date for this designation.

I also join this body in commending Jumpstart's Read for the Record in its fourth year; and encouraging adults, including grandparents, parents, teachers, and college students to come together with children of all ages to create the world's largest shared reading experience to show their support for early literacy and Jumpstart's year-long program working with preschool children in low-income communities.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of one very hungry caterpillar and the thousands of children eager to hear his story. This Thursday, October 8, marks Read for the Record Day, a day in which we're striving to break the world record for the largest shared reading day ever. On Thursday, adults and children all around the world will gather to read Eric Carle's classic book, ``The Very Hungry Caterpillar,'' in celebration of reading and service to preschool children.

In my own house, it was ``The Polar Express'' that captivated my children's imaginations and hearts at an early age. We would all snuggle up on the couch and enter the world of ringing bells, late- night train rides and the North Pole. Though the days when my three children could fit on my lap have long since passed, the tradition of reading continues. When a child is exposed to books at an early age, it can instill a love of reading and helps to build the foundation for success at school.

Jumpstart is a nonprofit dedicated to such success through early childhood education. College students and community volunteers tutor and mentor preschool children, empowering them with the tools necessary to be successful when they reach kindergarten. Since its inception, Jumpstart has worked with over 70,000 preschoolers.

Now in its fourth year, Jumpstart's Read for the Record Day highlights the importance of early involvement of adults in the lives of at-risk preschoolers. Most children in low-income communities have few, if any, age-appropriate books in their homes. Without the necessary tools and instructions, one in three schoolchildren arrives at the first day of school unprepared to learn, primarily due to economic instability. Jumpstart's Read for the Record campaign raises awareness about the importance of early literacy by encouraging adults to serve and read with young children. Through the campaign, thousands of books are distributed to young children in low-income communities, and Jumpstart's year-round program is supported.

My resolution, House Resolution 741, designates October 8, 2009, as Read for the Record Day and encourages people of all ages to join us in reading for this record this Thursday. I urge support of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 741) expressing support for designation of October 8, 2009, as national Jumpstart's ``Read for the Record Day,'' as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members may have 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 741 into the Record.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 741, which supports the designation of October 8, 2009, as national Jumpstart's ``Read For the Record Day.''

I would like to yield 5 minutes to the sponsor of the bill, my colleague from the great State of Colorado, Betsy Markey.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Research shows that the number of books in a home is the single strongest indicator of a child's future reading ability--setting him or her on a track record for success in school and in life. Unfortunately, many low-income children lack age-appropriate books in their homes. With this campaign, Jumpstart gives each participating Jumpstart child a copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar for their home library. Jumpstart and its partners have asked libraries and schools to host a reading event so that all children can participate on October 8, even if the kids don't have a copy of the official book at home.

In addition to this campaign, numerous other programs work to enhance early childhood literary. Jumpstart has sponsored Read Across America Day--which encourages parents to read to their children. Jumpstart also sponsors the Toys for Tots literacy program that promotes children's literacy while fighting poverty.

Recognizing Read for the Record Day encourages children, students, parents, and teachers to show their support for a shared reading experience. By planning a book drive, reading to children, or volunteering with Jumpstart, we can all play a significant role in helping to educate the youth of this country.

With that, I want to thank Representative Markey for introducing this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of the resolution before us, House Resolution 741, expressing support for the designation of this Thursday, October 8, 2009, as ``Read for the Record Day.''

Jumpstart is a national early education organization that recruits and trains college students and community volunteers to work with preschool children in low-income communities. These volunteers help young children to develop language, literacy and social skills. Since 1993, Jumpstart has engaged nearly 21,000 adults to serve almost 80,000 young children.

On Thursday, October 8, Jumpstart is working with its partners, including the Pearson Foundation, Walmart Stores, Inc., American Eagle Outfitters, Sodexo, Penguin Young Readers Group, Chase, and the American Association of Retired Persons, to continue its annual campaign to attempt to organize the world's largest shared reading experience.

In 2006, the international campaign was created to bring preschool children together with valued grownups to read the same book, on the same day, in communities all over the world. In 2008, a world record was set as nearly 700,000 readers shared the classic children's tale, Corduroy.

The goals of the campaign are to raise national awareness about the importance of early education. Jumpstart is working to provide books to children in low-income households through donations, book purchases and sponsorship in order to prepare more children for school success.

On ``Read for the Record Day'' in 2009, the hope is to engage more than 1 million children to read The Very Hungry Caterpillar and set a new world record for the world's largest shared reading experience on the same day. Thursday, October 8, can be a celebration of reading, service, and fun in support of the Nation's preschoolers.

I stand in support of designating October 8 as ``Read for the Record Day'' in order to encourage grandparents, parents, teachers, and students to come together with children of all ages to create the world's largest shared reading experience to show their support for early literacy.

I ask my colleagues' support, and I yield back the balance of my time.