Congressman Mike Simpson is a strong supporter of the Lee Pesky Learning Center, with a special interest in the Center’s work to foster early literacy. In an article in the Idaho Statesman, published on October 27^th, Congressman Simpson told the story of how he “sought out” the Center and then secured federal funds through a Congressional Appropriation to expand the Center’s efforts to increase literacy around the state. The article reported that “Simpson saw how successful (the Center’s) program was for increasing literacy, especially for children with learning disabilities.” Through the Congressional Appropriation, the Center distributed 22,000 booklets on early literacy education to new parents through maternity wards of hospitals throughout the state.