Congress Celebrates NEA’s
Read Across America on March 2

Even Super Tuesday will not keep
politicians from honoring Dr. Seuss

Washington, D.C. – Congressional Black Caucus Chair U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) and Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) represent different sides of the political aisle, but both will tip their hats to Dr. Seuss and reading on Tuesday, March 2 on behalf of the National Education Association’s (NEA) annual Read Across America celebration.

Alabama Senator Richard Shelby (R) and U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) may move to the beat of different political drums, but they too will join NEA to promote the joy of reading as well as the birthday of the late, great Theodor Geisel, better known to millions as Dr. Seuss.

This year March 2nd marks the good doctor’s 100^th birthday as well as one of the biggest primaries of the presidential electoral calendar, so it is particularly fitting that Democrats and Republicans will set aside partisan differences tomorrow in honor of the Seussentennial.

U.S. Representatives Charles Rangel and Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) along with Linda Sanchez and Pete Stark (D-Calif.) did not miss the coincidence. They and other Capitol Hill leaders scheduled a welcome breather tomorrow to relish the nonpartisan pleasure of a really good book.

"NEA’s Read Across America appeals to officials across the political spectrum because it sends the message that reading is not just important, but also fun," says Reg Weaver, NEA president.  "Liberal, conservative, or something in between, everyone can point to a favorite teacher and a book that left a mark on them."   

Fun is one of the ingredients that has made NEA’s Read Across America the largest literacy event in the nation. Last year more than 45 million children, teenagers and adults participated in reading events in all 50 states. Another factor that has made the reading celebration a great success is the witty and zany spirit of perhaps the best reading teacher of all time -- Dr. Seuss.    

In addition to thanking the California and New York representatives who responded to NEA’s call to read tomorrow, Weaver singled out for thanks the representatives from the other Super Tuesday primary states: Ohio, Georgia, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont, as well as participating Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas.    

"There’s nothing like watching the expressions on children’s faces as they listen to someone read to them," Weaver says. "Children love being read to and will remember it always."    

Research shows that children who read out of school and are read to by parents and guardians do better in school.   

Whether it is the comics or classic children’s books at the library, adults can bless children with one of the greatest gifts of all time -- the learning and pleasure that only reading a good book can bring.    

The complete list of political participants in NEA’s 2004 Read Across America is available online at www. nea.org/readacross/press. Visit the NEA Read Across America section of our Web site for games, activities, state events, and more.

March 1, 2004

Contact:

NEA Public Relations, 202-822-7200

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.