October 19th, 2026Heinrich, Cassidy Introduce Legislation to Help Improve Kids’ Literacy

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Dr. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Chair of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, introduced the Literacy Improvement For Transformation (LIFT) Act, legislation to improve child literacy outcomes in New Mexico, Louisiana, and nationwide. Early reading interventions help students build the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation , children who aren’t reading proficiently by third grade are four times more likely to leave high school without a diploma than their peers who are proficient readers. Students in rural communities and students with learning disabilities often face additional barriers to developing strong reading skills. Hiring more reading and literacy specialists can help close the literacy gap by providing targeted support and personalized instruction to students who need it most. The LIFT Act will ensure every K-12 public school has at least one full-time reading or literacy specialist on staff to help students strengthen their reading skills, overcome challenges, and build a strong foundation for lifelong learning. “Every child deserves the chance to succeed, and that starts with learning to read and write at grade level or above,” said Heinrich. “My LIFT Act will help schools hire dedicated reading specialists to work directly with students and build a strong foundation for success in school and beyond.” “Children with dyslexia are bright, but without the right support, they are being left behind,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This legislation helps schools put more trained reading specialists in classrooms so students with dyslexia and other struggling readers receive the instruction they need to succeed.” Heinrich and Cassidy’s LIFT Act establishes a grant program to help state and local education agencies, nonprofits, and Bureau of Indian Education K-12 schools hire full-time reading specialists to improve literacy and close achievement gaps. Specifically, the LIFT Act: Ensures reading specialists spend at least 80% of their time working directly with students and teachers. Supports ongoing professional development for reading specialists, including evidence-based literacy certifications. Prioritizes hiring reading specialists to support the lowest-performing students and students with disabilities. The legislation is endorsed by National Center for Learning Disabilities, Teach Plus, The May Center, and Nancy L. Orta, 2026 New Mexico Teacher of the Year. “Providing every elementary and secondary school in New Mexico with a literacy specialist would build on the momentum created by our state’s investment in the Science of Reading. A literacy specialist can help teachers identify students who are struggling with reading, model effective language arts instruction, and provide coaching and support to educators as they work to meet the needs of every learner,” said Nancy L. Orta, 2026 New Mexico Teacher of the Year, K-12 Intervention & Data Coach, Content Specialist at Las Cruces Public Schools. “New Mexico’s children and their families are too important for us to stop investing in their futures. We have an opportunity to build on the progress we’ve made and continue giving our students the literacy skills they need to succeed.” The full text of the bill is here . ###