Research Excellence and Advancements for Dyslexia Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. BROWNLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, as co-chair of the Congressional Dyslexia Caucus, I rise in strong support of this bipartisan bill, the READ Act, which will ensure, finally, that science drives informed public policy.

I want to thank Chairman Smith for his passionate leadership on this issue. Today is a day, I think, that we can all celebrate, and I want to thank him very, very much for all of his efforts.

The READ Act will increase National Science Foundation research on dyslexia, including best practices on early identification and professional development for teachers and school administrators.

It will also support research on the most effective teaching practices and curriculum models for students with dyslexia.

The research this bill supports can make a difference, a big, big difference, in the lives of millions of American children. Learning disabilities like dyslexia and attention-related disorders affect as many as one in five children in our country.

It was my daughter Hannah's struggle with dyslexia, that led me, quite frankly, to public service. Out of real frustration, I ran for my local school board because, as a parent, it was clear to me that our schools

were unprepared to meet my daughter's needs and to meet the needs of students with dyslexia, and teachers had never been properly trained to identify this learning disability.

After 12 years on the school board, I was elected to my State legislature. And as chair of the California Assembly on Education, I also worked to improve education for students with learning disabilities.

Now, as a Member of Congress, I want to do my part at the Federal level.

Across the country, many States are stepping up to this challenge. They have passed new laws to update their education codes, get assistive technology into more classrooms, and to boost teacher training.

Advancements in cognitive science can teach us much more about how the brain develops and, therefore, how children learn.

In closing, I want to share with everyone that my daughter is now 30 years old. She speaks three languages, and she is saving the world one life at a time in Africa. So she finally got the services she needs and is being very successful in life and following her own dreams.

I also want to thank, again, the gentleman from Texas, who is my co-chair on the Dyslexia Caucus, as well as all the members of the Science Committee for their bipartisan support for the READ Act.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this very important piece of legislation.

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