WASHINGTON – Michigan Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-Flint) was honored last night by the National Coalition for Literacy as a recipient of the 2006 Literacy Leadership Award.  Congressman Kildee was recognized as this year’s literacy leader because of his work on Fiscal Year 2007 appropriations legislation for literacy programs. 

“I am deeply honored to receive this award from the National Coalition for Literacy,” Kildee said. “Literacy opens doors to civic engagement, better health, career advancement, and is a fundamental key to a successful life.  I am a literacy advocate because it is the morally right thing to do, and because it is the necessary thing to do.  I will continue to fight for funding for literacy programs as long as I am in Congress.”

Earlier this year, Kildee originated two letters to lead Labor, Health and Human Services and Education appropriators, urging them to support funding of family and adult literacy programs.  He teamed with Education and Workforce Committee colleague Mike Castle (R-DE) to maintain funding for the Adult Basic Education and Family Literacy program.  The letter was cosigned by 43 members.

Kildee also led the effort to support full funding of the Even Start program, the only federal literacy program which teaches literacy to parents and their children in the same setting.  The Bush Administration has repeatedly sought to eliminate Even Start entirely.  A letter organized by Kildee urged a restoration of the FY05 funding level of $225 million and was cosigned by 66 members. 

The National Coalition for Literacy is a broad-based alliance of the country’s major adult education and family literacy organizations, including the National Council of State Directors of Adult Education, the Goodling Institute for Research, Literacy USA, the National Center for Adult Literacy, the National Even Start Association, the American Library Association, and others.  Kildee received the honor at the Literacy Leadership Awards Reception, held at the Madison Building of the Library of Congress in Washington. The award was presented to Kildee by the Retired Chairman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, Bill Goodling (R-PA), founder of the Even Start Program. The event honored various individuals, organizations, and corporations who have demonstrated a deep and sustained commitment by supporting family and adult literacy at all levels of government.