I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1516
To support local reading programs for children so that all children are
able to read well and independently by the end of the third grade.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 1, 1997
Mr. CLAY (for himself, Mr. MILLER of California, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. MAR-
TINEZ, Mr. OWENS, Mrs. MINK of Hawaii, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. FATTAH,
Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. TIERNEY, Mr. KIND, Ms. SANCHEZ, Mr. FORD, Mr.
BROWN of Ohio, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. DINGELL, Mr. ETHERIDGE,
Mr. FILNER, Mr. GREEN, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Ms. JACKSON-LEE
of Texas, Mr. JEFFERSON, Mr. JOHNSON of Wisconsin, Ms. KAPTUR,
Mrs. LOWEY, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Ms. NORTON, Mr. PALLONE,
Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. PASTOR, Mr. REYES, Mr. SAWYER, and Mr. TOWNS)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Education and the Workforce
A BILL
To support local reading programs for children so that all
children are able to read well and independently by the
end of the third grade.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
‘‘America Reads Challenge Act of 1997’’.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of
this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
TITLE I—AMERICA READS CHALLENGE
Sec. 101. Findings.
Sec. 102. Purpose and definitions.
Sec. 103. Funds appropriated and funds contributed by Corporation for Na-
tional and Community Service.
TITLE II—GRANTS TO STATES
Sec. 201. Funds available.
Sec. 202. Distribution of funds.
Sec. 203. State applications.
Sec. 204. Award of funds.
Sec. 205. Local reading programs.
Sec. 206. Local Parents as First Teachers programs.
Sec. 207. State administration.
TITLE III—LOCAL AND REGIONAL GRANTS TO SUPPORT
EFFECTIVE MODELS AND EXEMPLARY PARTNERSHIPS
Sec. 301. Funds available.
Sec. 302. Grants authorized.
Sec. 303. Eligible applicants.
Sec. 304. Applications.
TITLE IV—SUPPORTIVE ACTIVITIES
Sec. 401. Authorized activities.
TITLE V—MISCELLANEOUS
Sec. 501. Waivers.
Sec. 502. Consultation with Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Sec. 503. Prohibition on use of funds for certain purposes.
TITLE I—AMERICA READS
CHALLENGE
SEC. 101. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds as follows:
(1) While students today read on average as
well as ever, 40 percent of America’s fourth graders
have reading scores below the basic level on the Na-
tional Assessment of Educational Progress. This
reading performance is not adequate to prepare
these students to meet the complexity of the jobs
they will seek and the society in which they will live.
(2) Problems in reading performance of young
children exist in States and communities throughout
the country, including urban and rural locations. Re-
search shows that children who cannot read well and
independently by the end of the third grade are
hampered at the start of their education, and for the
rest of their lives, with a greater likelihood of drop-
ping out of school and of increased delinquent be-
haviors.
(3) Reading is a skill that is developed not only
in the classroom, but also in the home and other
places outside of school. While communities must
work with teachers, libraries, and principals to
strengthen in-school reading programs, all Ameri-
cans can play a role in helping young children learn
to read.
(4) As their children’s first teachers, parents
can give their children the firm foundation they need
to do well in school by, for example, reading to their
children at least 30 minutes each day from infancy
onward, talking with their children, reducing tele-