Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) reads to young patients at the Naval Health Clinic New England on February 19, 2009.      Government Affairs Department Urges All Sites to Host a Legislative Visit Since 2000, Reach Out and Read (ROR) has received federal funding administered through the U.S. Department of Education, as well as funding from more than a dozen state governments. This funding enables the National Center and ROR Coalitions to provide books to local ROR Programs like yours and make important investments in training and program quality to ensure that the program grows and thrives nationwide. With the active involvement of our many supporters, ROR will continue to seek public funds that, combined with our private support, will enable ROR to make a difference in more and more lives. During this difficult economic climate, your advocacy efforts are more critical than ever! Each year, the ROR National Center Government Affairs staff shapes and implements a strategy to ensure that federal support for ROR remains strong and that Members of Congress are educated about the program and our needs. But, our direct efforts on Capitol Hill can only go so far. You, as ROR advocates from across the country, have the power to deliver our message in the most effective way. Your personal, local stories about ROR make a lasting impression on legislators, and are an essential part of our advocacy effort. Members of Congress want to hear from you, their constituents back home, about the importance of ROR in the lives of the children and families whom they represent. You know the first-hand anecdotes: the child’s face that lights up when he receives a brand-new book, or the parent who is now more comfortable reading aloud to their child. While we will always inform you when there is a particular issue affecting ROR for which your support is needed, we strongly encourage you to meet with your elected officials while they are home and invite them to visit your Program! By hosting a Legislative Site Visit, you can show your legislators first-hand why the program is so vital to your community, and at the same time highlight the work of your health center or clinic in the local press. A Site Visit is also a great way to create new relationships with first-term Members of Congress and those who may not be familiar with the work that we do. Once a legislator has visited an ROR Program, he or she is far more likely to support our efforts in Congress. Thank you for everything you do for ROR. As always, know that we are here to support you. Don’t hesitate to contact the Government Affairs office at the Reach Out and Read National Center if we can be of assistance in any way. We can be reached at 617-455-0613 or legislativeaction@reachoutandread.org.   Return