To amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to provide vouchers for the purchase of educational books for infants and children participating in the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children under that Act.

July 18, 2003

Mrs. MALONEY (for herself and Ms. NORTON) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

To amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to provide vouchers for the purchase of educational books for infants and children participating in the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children under that Act.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Access to Books for Children Act' or the `ABC Act'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:

(1) Reading to a child plays a crucial role in the development of the child's brain from the earliest years.

(2) According to a 1995 study by the National Commission on Reading, reading aloud to a child is the single most important tool for developing literacy skills.

(3) A child who is not introduced to books and early literacy practices is more than three times as likely to drop out of school as a child who is introduced to books and early literacy practices.

(4) The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends daily reading to a child beginning when the child is just 6 months old and recommends that pediatricians prescribe reading activities and other instruction to parents during well-child visits.

SEC. 3. AMENDMENT TO THE CHILD NUTRITION ACT OF 1966.

Section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(s) VOUCHERS FOR PURCHASE OF EDUCATIONAL BOOKS FOR INFANTS AND CHILDREN-

`(1) IN GENERAL- In carrying out the program under this section, the Secretary shall provide grants to local agencies for the purpose of providing vouchers to women participating in the program for the purchase of educational books for the infants and children of such women.

`(2) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS- In providing vouchers pursuant to paragraph (1), a local agency shall comply with the following requirements:

`(A) A woman may receive not more than 1 voucher (irrespective of the number of infants or children of the woman).

`(B) The amount of a voucher may not exceed $5.

`(3) FUNDING-

`(A) IN GENERAL- Of the amounts made available to the Department of Education for fiscal years 2004, 2005, and 2006, $10,000,000 shall be made available to carry out this subsection (except as provided in subparagraph (B)) for each such fiscal year.

`(B) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS- In addition to amounts made available under subparagraph (A), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $1,000,0000 for each of the fiscal years 2004, 2005, and 2006 for the administrative costs in carrying out this subsection.

`(C) AVAILABILITY- Amounts made available under subparagraphs (A) and (B) are authorized to remain available until expended.'.

END