As your constituent, I am writing to urge you to support universal access to education for the more than 90 million children worldwide who are being denied the right to an education by co-sponsoring the Education for All Act of 2007 (S. 1259 or H.R. 2092).

Education is a basic human right and one of the most powerful solutions we have to end global poverty. Educating children around the world leads to economic growth and political stability, improves child and maternal health, and helps to slow the spread of HIV/AIDS. Under the Education for All Act, the U.S. government would develop a comprehensive strategy to help put every child in school. The bill also calls for funding for eliminating school fees, training teachers, and promoting civic education and life skills training.

Along with supporting the Education for All Act 2007, we urge our political leaders to drastically increase funding so that all children will have an equal chance to receive an education. Currently, the United States ranks 20th out of 22 developed countries for its level of commitment to funding education. This is not acceptable.

Please keep our commitment to the Millennium Development Goals and increase U.S. support for universal access to basic education.