Senator Edward Kennedy (D. Mass), chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee, recognizes the importance of distance learning as well as the pertinence of the National Distance Learning Week initiative. “Online learning programs are invaluable because they provide a segment of or population with critical literacy and job-related skills as well as the means to take their careers to the next level”, said Senator Kennedy. He also noted that “it is important that people have a greater awareness and appreciation for distance learning.”