releases: https://katko.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-katko-honors-100th-birthday-adult-literacy-pioneer-ruth-colvin
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://katko.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-katko-honors-100th-birthday-adult-literacy-pioneer-ruth-colvin | REP. KATKO HONORS 100th BIRTHDAY OF ADULT LITERACY PIONEER RUTH COLVIN | 2016-12-06 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | NY | John Katko | K000386 | katko.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. – This morning, U.S. Rep. John Katko (NY-24) delivered remarks on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to honor the tremendous legacy of Ruth Colvin, a pioneer in the adult literacy movement, who is celebrating her 100th birthday this month. Video of Rep. Katko’s remarks can be found here. His remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the tremendous legacy of Ruth Johnson Colvin, a pioneer in the adult literacy movement from my district who is celebrating her 100th birthday this month. Known as the “mother of the adult literacy movement,” Ruth Colvin has had an immeasurable impact on our community and on our nation. In the 1960’s, upon discovering that 11,000 people in her hometown of Syracuse, New York could not read, Ruth Colvin launched the Literacy Volunteers of America. That organization, now known as ProLiteracy, is still based in Syracuse today. Ruth Colvin has dedicated her entire life to teaching, assisting, and empowering adult learners. She has taught hundreds of people to read, trained literacy tutors in 26 countries, and developed and published effective programs to teach basic literacy and English as a second language. Because of her efforts, hundreds of thousands of adults have learned to read both locally in Central New York and around the globe. Over more than four decades, Ruth Colvin has published nine books, visited or worked in more than 60 countries, and received nine honorary doctorates. She was awarded the President’s Volunteer Action Award from President Ronald Reagan, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush and was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. Ruth Colvin has given so many the gift of literacy. On December 16th of this year, she will turn 100 years old. Please join me in honoring her tremendous life’s work and her legacy as we celebrate this milestone occasion. Happy Birthday, Ruth. Congressman John Katko represents the 24th Congressional District, which includes all of Onondaga, Cayuga, and Wayne Counties and a portion of Oswego County. For more information, please visithttps://katko.house.gov or www.facebook.com/RepJohnKatko. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |