[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 213 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.J.Res.213
                       One Hundred Third Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE FIRST SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
  the fifth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-three


                            Joint Resolution


 
 Designating July 2, 1993 and July 2, 1994 as ``National Literacy Day''.

Whereas forty-two million Americans today read at a level which is less 
  than necessary for full survival needs;
Whereas there are thirty million adults in the United States who cannot 
  read, whose resources are left untapped, and who are unable to offer 
  their full contribution to society;
Whereas illiteracy is growing rapidly, as two million three hundred 
  thousand persons, including one million two hundred thousand legal and 
  illegal immigrants, one million high school dropouts, and one hundred 
  thousand refugees, are added to the pool of illiterates annually;
Whereas the annual cost of illiteracy to the United States in terms of 
  welfare expenditures, crime, prison expenses, lost revenues, and 
  industrial and military accidents has been estimated at 
  $225,000,000,000;
Whereas the competitiveness of the United States is eroded by the 
  presence in the workplace of millions of Americans who are 
  functionally or technologically illiterate;
Whereas there is a direct correlation between the number of illiterate 
  adults unable to perform at the standard necessary for available 
  employment and the money allocated to child welfare and unemployment 
  compensation;
Whereas the percentage of illiterates in proportion to population size 
  is higher for blacks and Hispanics, resulting in increased economic 
  and social discrimination against these minorities;
Whereas the prison population represents the single highest 
  concentration of adult illiteracy;
Whereas one million children in the United States between the ages of 
  twelve and seventeen cannot read above a third grade level, 13 per 
  centum of all seventeen-year-olds are functionally illiterate, and 15 
  per centum of graduates of urban high schools read at less than a 
  sixth grade level;
Whereas 85 per centum of the juveniles who appear in criminal court are 
  functionally illiterate;
Whereas the 47 per centum illiteracy rate among black youths is expected 
  to increase;
Whereas one-half of all heads of households cannot read past the eighth 
  grade level and one-third of all mothers on welfare are functionally 
  illiterate;
Whereas the cycle of illiteracy continues because the children of 
  illiterate parents are often illiterate themselves because of the lack 
  of support they receive from their home environment;
Whereas Federal, State, municipal, and private literacy programs have 
  only been able to reach 5 per centum of the total illiterate 
  population;
Whereas it is vital to call attention to the problem of illiteracy, to 
  understand the severity of the problem and its detrimental effects on 
  our society, and to reach those who are illiterate and unaware of the 
  free services and help available to them; and
Whereas it is also necessary to recognize and thank the thousands of 
  volunteers who are working to promote literacy and provide support to 
  the millions of illiterates in need of assistance: Now, therefore, be 
  it

    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That July 2, 1993 and July 2, 
1994 are designated as ``National Literacy Day'', and the President is 
authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the people 
of the United States to observe such day with appropriate ceremonies and 
activities.







                                Speaker of the House of Representatives.







                             Vice President of the United States and    
                                                President of the Senate.