| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: | CONTACT: Jesse Jacobs - 202-224-4524 |
| Friday, May 10, 2002 | Craig Davis - 202-224-7391 |
Senator Paul S. Sarbanes (D-MD), the Chairman of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, will speak at the first national Summit on Economic and Financial Literacy. The summit is being hosted by the National Council on Economic Education and the Federal Reserve and is bringing together economic educators, professionals in economics and finance, business leaders and policy makers to promote financial literacy and education with the goal of creating an economically and financially literate society.
Sarbanes has been a leading advocate of improving the financial literacy of Americans. As Chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, Sarbanes recently convened two days of Congressional hearings on the issue of financial literacy and education. Among the witnesses were Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Harvey Pitt, and individuals from outside groups who are working with school-aged children to young people who are handling credit for the first time, first-time mortgage borrowers, and those trying to save enough for retirement.
Sarbanes is scheduled to speak:
TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2002
9:30 A.M.
NATIONAL PRESS CLUB
529 14TH STREET, NW
"It is my strong belief that higher levels of financial literacy will help Americans approach the decisions they must make in a responsible and productive manner," said Sarbanes. "The time has come to bring the public, private, and non-profit sectors together in a national strategy to raise the level of financial education in our nation and I am pleased to be a part of this inaugural National Summit on Economic Literacy."
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