PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9608-9610)
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Oct 2, 2000
Access to Books for Children Act - ABC Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to revise and rename title X part E as Access to Books for Children (ABC).Extends the authorization of appropriations for the Inexpensive Book Distribution Program, under which the Secretary of Education contracts with Reading Is Fundamental (RIF).Establishes and authorizes appropriations for the following new programs. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) contract with a national organization to support programs that pay the Federal share of the cost of distributing books to disadvantaged children and families through tutoring, mentoring, and family education, and to promote local partnerships to leverage Federal book distribution efforts and build on community programs to enhance reading motivation for at- risk children (Local Partnerships for Books program); (2) contract with a national organization to support programs that distribute books to children five years of age and younger, provide guidance from pediatric clinicians to parents and guardians in reading aloud to children, and help build reading readiness skills (Partnerships for Infants and Young Children program); and (3) annually evaluate part E programs and local literacy programs conducted under part E that link children with book ownership and mentoring in literacy.
People & committees
Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT] · D–CT
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9608-9610)
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9608-9609)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 20, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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