Washington, DC- (Thursday, May 17, 2012) – This week, Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) awarded Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson for her commitment to RIF’s mission, children’s literacy, and recognizing the incredible effect books can have in a child’s life.  The event held by RIF was to honor her leadership on behalf of underserved children and families.

Congresswoman Johnson issued the following statement in response to the award, “Reading Is Fundamental has a significant impact in the 30^th District and across the state of Texas. This program is a vital tool in ensuring underserved youth have access to books and literacy resources, encouraging parents to read to their kids, and working to make reading fun and a part of everyday life.”

“For the past ten years, I’ve been an advocate for supporting legislation geared toward promoting children’s priorities on behalf of children’s literacy, including leading the way for a new literacy grant program called the Department of Education’s Innovative Approaches to Literacy program. “Thank you to Reading Is Fundamental for recognizing my work in improving the literacy among our Nation’s children, and for the good work they do.”

Last year, RIF distributed nearly 175,000 books to 50,000 at risk children in the 30^thCongressional District of Texas.  In the state of Texas alone, RIF programs served more than half a million children, distributing nearly two million books to children that otherwise could not afford them.

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and a senior member of the Science Committee. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which, includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Turtle Creek, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla.