By: Van de Putte S.C.R. No. 19
 
 
 
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
         WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Texas is pleased to
  recognize the Reach Out and Read program for its outstanding
  efforts to ensure that young children are prepared to succeed in
  school; and
         WHEREAS, Reach Out and Read was developed by pediatricians
  and early childhood educators to make literacy promotion a regular
  part of pediatric checkups; and
         WHEREAS, Studies have shown that exposure to books and
  reading in the first years of life increases the probability of a
  child's healthy development and success in school; approximately a
  third of American children entering kindergarten lack the basic
  language skills they need in order to learn to read, with children
  living in poverty especially at risk; and
         WHEREAS, Reach Out and Read addresses this problem by having
  doctors and nurses go beyond traditional medical care to provide
  parents with information on how to read to children at each
  developmental stage; they further provide each young patient with
  an age-appropriate book to take home, which serves to encourage
  parents to make reading aloud a routine activity; and
         WHEREAS, This exemplary program has been implemented in
  nearly 250 clinics, hospitals, and military installations across
  Texas and reaches more than 245,000 young Texans each year; it is
  truly deserving of recognition for its record of success in
  encouraging families to read together; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas
  hereby commend the doctors, educators, and parents who participate
  in the Reach Out and Read program for their exemplary work in
  helping prepare children to succeed in school and in life; and, be
  it further
         RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for them
  as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate and House of
  Representatives.