VIDEO: Congresswoman Erin Houchin Speaks at First Education and Workforce Committee**To watch the video click here or the WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Erin Houchin (R-Ind.-09) spoke at the first House Education and Workforce Committee hearing of the 118th Congress. As a member of the committee, the Congresswoman focused on the importance of returning to phonics-based reading instruction for children, as well as workforce development issues. During the hearing, Congresswoman Houchin noted the need to push the education industrial complex away from a failed “balanced literacy” approach to “phonics-based” reading instruction to help our students, including those with dyslexia. Congresswoman Houchin has been contending for this issue for years as a state legislator due to her personal experience with dyslexia. “My son is dyslexic. Many of our colleagues have children with dyslexia or other reading disabilities. So, I’ve worked on this issue very closely in the state of Indiana as a legislator … We are making progress toward a more phonics-based instruction. I’m really glad of that, but I do know firsthand how hard it is to turn the bureaucratic barge in the state of Indiana,” said Congresswoman Houchin. Congresswoman Houchin pressed committee witnesses about what can be done at the federal level to encourage the transition to phonics-based instruction to bridge the gap of declining reading scores. In addition to Mrs. Virginia Gentle’s support, Congresswoman Houchin noted the Dyslexia Institute of Indiana shared their strong support for a phonics-based approach. Following a meeting with Ivy Tech Community College earlier this week, Congresswoman Houchin shifted her focus to address the near-record 11 million unfilled job openings and the lower workforce participation rate. “I did have the opportunity to visit with Ivy Tech . Certainly, we’re very proud of their presence in southern Indiana and my district. And one of the things we talked about is the record number of job openings and the lower workforce participation rate and what we can do to increase that. Ivy Tech is working on increasing and drilling down on what high skilled certifications are necessary for those high-valued industries,” said Congresswoman Houchin.
To watch the full hearing, click here.