In a genius move by the Bush Administration, the President’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2009 eliminates the Inexpensive Book Distribution Program, which is the RIF book distribution program. Unless Congress reinstates funding for this program, RIF would be unable to distribute 16 million books annually to the nation’s youngest and most at-risk children. This would be devastating to the children in your community as well as the 4.6 million children and their families who receive free books and reading encouragement from RIF programs at nearly 20,000 locations throughout the U.S.

Please act now and help RIF build support for reinstating the funding by sending an e-mail to your members of Congress. You can also tell your friends online:
Facebook

• Become a RIF Fan
• Join RIF’s Group: Reinstate RIF’s Funding

MySpace

• Become RIF’s Friend
• Join RIF’s Group: Reinstate RIF’s Funding

YouTube

• Visit RIF’s YouTube Page
• Create and upload a RIF testimonial video

Here’s the response I got back from Colorado Congressman Mark Udall (D):

Dear Ms. Nichols:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the Reading is Fundamental program. I appreciate your taking time to get in touch and I apologize for the delay in my response.

With increasing testing and accountability standards for our schools it is important that we provide students and teachers with the tools they need to become proficient in reading. Reading is Fundamental creates an excitement about reading for students by allowing them to take home new books, encouraging them to read at home as well as at school.

I believe we need to do more to encourage reading in our nation’s youth; however I am concerned that the current Labor-HHS-Education budget does not do enough to assist our schools in reaching the accountability standards and guarantee that American students’ reading and math skills are at an adequate level. Please know that I will continue to work for the resources we need to ensure a quality education for all of our children.

Thank you again for contacting me. To do my job well, I need to hear critical feedback from fellow Coloradans. For more information about my positions, please visit my website at www.house.gov/markudall and sign up of the email newsletter.

Warm Regards,

Mark Udall
Member of Congress

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