House Proceeding 10-06-09 on Oct 6th, 2009 :: 0:24:10 to 0:27:10
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0:24:06 to 0:24:27( Edit History Discussion )

Marsha Blackburn: of adult education and of family literacy. i ask my colleagues to support this and i yield such time as she may consume to my colleague from tennessee, marsha blackburn. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from tennessee is recognized. mrs. blackburn: madam speaker, i do rise in support of adult

0:24:10 to 0:27:10( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Marsha Blackburn

0:24:28 to 0:24:49( Edit History Discussion )

Marsha Blackburn: education and family literacy week. i'd like to quote one of my predecessors, a former member from tennessee who while often my friends -- like my friends from texas like to claim him as theirs, i think he was ours first, and that is sam houston. congressman houston said the benefits of education and of useful knowledge generally diffuse through a community are

0:24:50 to 0:25:10( Edit History Discussion )

Marsha Blackburn: essential to the preservation of a free government. this week it is our opportunity to enhance the preservation of that liberty by turning a very careful eye to adult education and family literacy. as i have before in this chamber, i'd like to highlight the accomplishments of my

0:25:11 to 0:25:34( Edit History Discussion )

Marsha Blackburn: friend and constituent, gretchen wilson. gretchen was one of 43 million americandults who had not completed high school. inspired by her young daughter, she earned her high school degree later in life. she knew that literacy was more than just knowing how to read and write. after all, she was already a grammy award-winning artist.

0:25:35 to 0:25:55( Edit History Discussion )

Marsha Blackburn: literacy is also the implementation of that skill which empowers people with worlds of new information. it is the spark that curiousity, and gretchen knew how precious that curiousity could be. the children of parents who have not completed high school are far more likely to drop out

0:25:56 to 0:26:17( Edit History Discussion )

Marsha Blackburn: themselves. indeed, children's literacy levels are strongly linked to the educational levels of their parents. especially to the levels of their mothers. gretchen knew that her education was also her daughter's education. in so many cases like gretchen wilson's, that spark of

0:26:18 to 0:26:39( Edit History Discussion )

Marsha Blackburn: curiousity has grown into a desire to give back. she, like so many others who have benefited from adult education now work to expand that benefit to others. i'll close by quoting thomas jefferson whose words on the matter are more eloquent than mine could ever be.

0:26:40 to 0:27:00( Edit History Discussion )

Marsha Blackburn: and he stated, in life, people of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits as the dawn of day. thank you, madam speaker. and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman yields back. the gentleman from colorado is recognized. mr. polis: thank you. does the gentleman from wisconsin have any additional speakers?

0:27:01 to 0:27:10( Edit History Discussion )

Marsha Blackburn: mr. petri: i have no additional speakers and i yield back the bance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the gentleman from colorado. mr. polis: thank you. i yield back the balance of my