ALERT - Reach Out and Read and Reading is Fundamental funding in Danger

Please contact Senator Jon Kyl’s office at http://kyl.senate.gov/contact.cfm and ask him to vote NO on the Coburn Amendment, which is being voted on Monday, November 29th. You can also call Abby Donovan, Senator Kyl’s education staffer at 202-224-4521. Below is a short script for your use.

If the amendment passes, it would end ALL funding for Reach Out and Read, including 6 million dollars in the current budget proposals. Reach Out and Read is technically an earmark, despite being a national program with 11 years of federal funding. This amendment would devastate national and state Reach Out and Read Programs as well as Reading is Fundamental (RIF), which provides books for low income children and Tribal Programs. Reach Out and Read is a proven school readiness program serving children 6 month-5 years, with 182 programs in 13 counties serving over 124,000 children in Arizona.

We need your assistance and we only have a very small window of time to mobilize to make sure that Reach Out and Read and Reading is Fundamental, are not removed from the budget. Please call Abby and email Senator Kyl.

Here is some language that you can use for your email to Senator Kyl:

“Subject Line: Vote NO on Coburn Amendment 4697

I urge Senator Kyl to vote No on the Coburn Amendment (SA-4697-510), which is scheduled for a vote on Monday, November 29th.

As you know, Reach out and Read is a proven, pediatric school readiness program that works with more than 3.95 million, low-income children and their families at more than 4,500 hospitals and health centers in fifty states. We currently serve 124,000 children in Arizona at 182 programs.

I urge you to vote NO on the Coburn Amendment.

Thank you,

First Name/Last Name

Reach Out and Read Arizona”