WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate today passed Senator Jack Reed’s (D-RI) annual legislation designating “Read Across America Day,” to be held this year on March 3, 2014. Reed’s bipartisan resolution, co-sponsored by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), aims to improve children’s reading skills, promote a lifelong love of learning, and encourage parents to read with their children in celebration of this nationwide observance. The resolution also honors beloved children’s author Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, for his efforts to make reading fun for kids of all ages.

“Reading is a key ingredient for student achievement and educational success, so I am happy to offer bipartisan legislation again this year that highlights the importance and excitement of reading,” said Reed. “Read Across America Day is also an opportunity for parents to nurture a lifelong interest in reading by making a commitment to keep reading on the calendar 365 days a year, and lead by example by finding some time to open up a book yourself.”

Sponsored by the National Education Association (NEA), the annual Read Across America Day celebration began in 1998 when organizers sought to facilitate “the largest celebration of reading this country has ever seen.” That annual tradition continues on Monday in cities and towns across the United States, with more than 45 million readers nationwide expected to participate at libraries, schools, hospitals, town halls and churches.

Senator Reed will take part in a Read Across America  Day event on Saturday at the Warwick Mall, one of many reading events taking place throughout Rhode Island. More information about Read Across America Day events, as well as resources to get reading, are available at http://www.nea.org/grants/886.htm

Reed has long been a champion of child literacy initiatives. Reed's Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program has provided more than $160 million to help more children learn to read. Senator Reed has successfully led efforts to provide resources to support libraries and other children’s literacy initiatives in annual appropriations laws. Reed also introduced the bipartisan 2011 Prescribe A Book Act with Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) to authorize a federal pediatric early literacy grant program based on the long-standing, successful Reach Out and Read program. It would allow doctors and nurses to provide low-income parents with a children’s book to take home at every wellness visit along with advice about the importance of reading aloud to their child and age-appropriate reading tips.

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