{"id":2470688,"date":"2025-08-04T16:11:02","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T20:11:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/usha-vance-hosts-summer-reading-program-at-nasa-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-08-04T16:12:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T20:12:08","slug":"usha-vance-hosts-summer-reading-program-at-nasa-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/usha-vance-hosts-summer-reading-program-at-nasa-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Usha Vance hosts summer reading program at NASA &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fusha-vance-hosts-summer-reading-program-at-nasa-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2470688&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>usha Vance, the Second Lady of the United States, visited NASA&#8217;s Johnson Space Center in Houston alongside astronaut Suni Williams to promote the Summer reading Challenge she launched earlier in the year. During the event, they read together from the book *Margaret and the Moon: How Margaret Hamilton Saved the First Lunar Landing*. Vance emphasized the importance of reading in her own life, crediting it for her personal and professional progress, including motherhood and her role as Second Lady.<\/p>\n<p>The Summer Reading Challenge encourages children from kindergarten to eighth grade to read 12 books by September 9, with prizes including a chance to visit the white House. Vance, a mother of three, has expressed concern over declining reading rates among schoolchildren, a trend confirmed by the 2024 National Assessment of Educational progress showing reading scores remain low following the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>Astronaut Williams praised Vance for inspiring young readers and encouraging them to dream big. During the event, Vance answered children&#8217;s questions about space, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/selma-blair-said-shes-dying-alive-staying-positive-during-ms-battle\/\" title=\"Selma Blair remains positive while battling MS, despite feeling like she&#039;s &quot;dying alive.&quot;\">sharing personal anecdotes<\/a> such as her favorite planet, Jupiter, and expressing her excitement about speaking with an astronaut.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Usha Vance touts reading program during NASA visit with astronaut Suni Williams<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2170991\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Second lady <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/usha-vance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Usha Vance<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nasa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">NASA<\/a> astronaut Suni Williams championed the Summer Reading Challenge Vance launched earlier this year, at the Johnson Space Center in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/houston\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Houston<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is really exciting for me, because I love space, and I love NASA, and I can&rsquo;t believe that I get to hang out with a real astronaut,&rdquo; said Vance during the Monday afternoon event, which featured a joint reading from the book <em>Margaret and the Moon: How Margaret Hamilton Saved the First Lunar Landing<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3490154\/republicans-support-israel-push-annex-west-bank-mike-johnson\/\">Johnson visits West Bank settlements as Israeli officials push to fully annex region<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3490325\/john-cornyn-ny-attorney-general-letitia-james-act\/\">Cornyn mocks New York attorney general with new LETITIA Act<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3490278\/israeli-government-fire-gali-baharav-miara-netanyahu-trial\/\">Israeli government votes to fire attorney general prosecuting Netanyahu in corruption trial<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;I think reading helped me do everything that&rsquo;s happened in my life, from going to college to deciding what countries I wanted to visit or what cities I want to explore, to coming up with my favorite hobbies,&rdquo; Vance later told the group of children in attendance. &ldquo;To even having any idea what to do when I had babies and how to take care of them. So, without reading, I would definitely not be here today as a grown-up with two or three great kids or as second lady.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>Vance launched the reading <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3434910\/usha-vance-hosts-first-camp-vpr-children-reading\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">program in early June<\/a>, challenging children from kindergarten to eighth grade to read 12 books of their choice before Sept. 9 for a certificate and a prize. One child who completes the challenge will get a chance to visit the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">White House<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The second lady is the mother of three young children and has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3432338\/usha-vance-spotlights-summer-reading-challenge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">previously commented<\/a> on the falling reading rates among <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/san-francisco-students-are-committing-suicide-at-an-alarming-rate-now-the-city-is-suing-its-schools\/\" title=\"San Francisco Students Are Committing Suicide At An Alarming Rate. Now The City Is Suing Its Schools.\">school-aged children<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>An assessment from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/education\/3303198\/naep-test-scores-show-effect-pandemic-era-school-closures\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress<\/a>, known as the nation&rsquo;s report card, showed reading and math scores<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/education\/3303965\/low-education-test-scores-abolish-department-education\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"> have not rebounded<\/a> from the COVID-19 pandemic. <\/p>\n<p>Reading scores among fourth graders were at a low not seen since 2000, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-pledge-to-shut-down-the-education-department-becomes-official\/\" title=\"Trump&#039;s pledge to shut down the Education Department becomes official\">eighth-grade reading scores continued<\/a> a downward trend with scores lower than in at least 1992.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Usha Vance is an accomplished attorney, advocate, and mother of three who&rsquo;s inspiring the next generation through the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >summer reading challenge<\/a>,&rdquo; said Williams as she introduced Vance. &ldquo;She&rsquo;s turning pages into possibilities, encouraging young minds across America and beyond to dream big. That&rsquo;s you guys. Read often and aim high.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>The second lady and Williams also took questions from the young children in attendance. Vance told the crowd that Jupiter was her favorite planet. <\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3434910\/usha-vance-hosts-first-camp-vpr-children-reading\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">USHA VANCE HOSTS FIRST CAMP VPR FOR CHILDREN AT VICE PRESIDENT&rsquo;S RESIDENCE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In fact, in our house, we have a painting that my little boy made when he was five. Jupiter is seen through the asteroid belt,&rdquo; she said in response to a question from Caroline, a third-grader from Tennessee. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s the way that I like to think about it.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I would love to go to space. I think it would be the greatest adventure you could have,&rdquo; Vance also told the audience. &ldquo;So I&rsquo;m pretty excited that I get to talk to someone who&rsquo;s actually done it.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2170991\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2170991\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Usha Vance promotes reading program with astronaut Suni Williams<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2658,"featured_media":2470689,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Usha-Vance-scaled-1024x683.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[60612,11488,60611,35150,32076],"class_list":["post-2470688","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-educational-events","tag-nasa","tag-summer-reading-program","tag-usha-vance","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Usha-Vance-scaled-1024x683.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2470688","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2658"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2470688"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2470688\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2470692,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2470688\/revisions\/2470692"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2470689"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2470688"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2470688"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2470688"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}