We recently concluded our Appropriations Campaigns in the House and Senate. 112 Members of the House and 40 Members of the Senate supported our request for $10 million in FY11, a tremendous success given this difficult budget year.

Click here to view a full list of champions of Reach Out and Read's FY11 Appropriations Request.

A bill called the Prescribe a Book Act (S. 1345, H.R. 1526) has been introduced in Congress to create a competitive grant program to support pediatric early literacy programs, based on the proven Reach Out and Read model, all across the country. The lead sponsor in the House is Congressman Donald Payne (NJ-10), and in the Senate are Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Charles Grassley (R-IA).

In February, more than 80 Reach Out and Read Field Leaders, Medical Directors, and Staff gathered in Washington, D.C. for Reach Out and Read's 7th annual Capitol Hill Day. We conducted more than 300 meetings with Members of Congress and their staff to educate them about Reach Out and Read and to ask for their help with our federal funding efforts.