WTF IS THE READ ACT AND WHY MUST CONGRESS REAUTHORIZE IT
Attention, attention! It's time to dive deep into the world of international education and the READ Act. Don't worry, I promise to make it funny and witty.
First things first, what is the READ Act? Well, my dear reader, it stands for Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development. Sounds fancy, right? Basically, it's a law that was passed in 2017 to promote education in developing countries.
Now, you may be thinking, "Why should I care about education in developing countries?" Well, for starters, education is a fundamental right and it's important to ensure that everyone has access to it. Plus, educated individuals are more likely to contribute positively to their communities and economies.
But let's get back to the READ Act. Congress must reauthorize it because it's essential for promoting education and creating a better world. Without it, we risk leaving millions of children without access to quality education. And that's not funny at all.
So, what can we do to ensure that Congress reauthorizes the READ Act? Well, we could send them a strongly worded letter. Or we could organize a protest outside of their offices. But let's be real, who has time for that?
Instead, let's use our wit and humor to persuade them. We could send them a funny video of us attempting to do math without an education. Or we could create a meme of a sad child with the caption "When Congress doesn't reauthorize the READ Act."
But in all seriousness, international education is crucial for creating a better world. It's up to us to make sure that Congress reauthorizes the READ Act and keeps it a priority. So let's get creative and make our voices heard.
In conclusion, the READ Act may sound like just another law, but it has the power to change lives and create a brighter future. So let's put on our funny hats and get to work convincing Congress to reauthorize it. Who knows, maybe one day we'll live in a world where education is accessible to all. And that's no joke.
Congress must reauthorize the READ Act and keep international education a priority | The Hill https://thehill.com/opinion/congress-blog/4087349-congress-must-reauthorize-the-read-act-and-keep-international-education-a-priority/
THE DEFT DIVE
What is the READ Act?
There are two different bills with the same name: the **Reading Early and Addressing Dyslexia Act** or the **READ Act** (H.R.2023) and the **Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development Act** or the **READ Act** (S.3257).
The first one is a bill introduced in the House of Representatives on March 18, 2021 by Rep. Chrissy Houlahan [D-PA-6]. It aims to establish an early literacy and dyslexia intervention pilot program to award grants to five state educational agencies to address early reading deficiencies and dyslexia¹.
The second one is a bill introduced in the Senate on March 2, 2022 by Sen. Marco Rubio [R-FL]. It aims to reauthorize and amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to promote quality basic education in developing countries³.
Who are the supporters of the READ Act?
The supporters of the first READ Act (H.R.2023) include its sponsor Rep. Chrissy Houlahan and its cosponsors Rep. Bruce Westerman [R-AR-4], Rep. Julia Brownley [D-CA-26], Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick [R-PA-1], Rep. Larry Bucshon [R-IN-8], Rep. David Trone [D-MD-6], Rep. David McKinley [R-WV-1], Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz [D-FL-23], and Rep. Rodney Davis [R-IL-13]¹.
The supporters of the second READ Act (S.3257) include its sponsor Sen. Marco Rubio and its cosponsors Sen. Richard Durbin [D-IL], Sen. Tina Smith [D-MN], and Rep. Karen Bass [D-CA-37]³.
Bing, 7/11/2023
(1) H.R.2023 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): READ Act. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2023.
(2) Rubio, Durbin, Smith, Bass Introduce Legislation to Reauthorize READ .... https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2022/3/rubio-durbin-smith-bass-introduce-legislation-to-reauthorize-read-act-continue-global-access-to-education.
(3) Text - H.R.2023 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): READ Act. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2023/text.
(4) Colorado READ Act Information for Parents | CDE. https://www.cde.state.co.us/coloradoliteracy/generalinfo-parents.