[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 65 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 65

 Expressing the support of the House of Representatives for efforts to 
 increase financial literacy in the United States and recognizing the 
  work of John Hope Bryant to raise awareness about the importance of 
                    financial and economic literacy.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 14, 2009

Ms. Watson (for herself, Mr. Meeks of New York, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, 
  Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Watt, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. 
   Payne, Ms. Corrine Brown of Florida, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. 
Edwards of Maryland, Ms. Clarke, Mr. Rush, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. 
Hastings of Florida, Mr. Rangel, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Barrow, Mr. McDermott, 
    Mr. Becerra, and Mr. Carson of Indiana) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the support of the House of Representatives for efforts to 
 increase financial literacy in the United States and recognizing the 
  work of John Hope Bryant to raise awareness about the importance of 
                    financial and economic literacy.

Whereas financial literacy is the ability of individuals to make appropriate 
        decisions in managing their personal finances;
Whereas raising levels of financial literacy in the United States should be one 
        of the top priorities of the Federal Government;
Whereas the President's Advisory Council on Financial Literacy was created on 
        January 22, 2008, by President George W. Bush;
Whereas the purpose of the Council is to help keep America competitive and 
        assist the American people in understanding and addressing financial 
        matters;
Whereas a survey has found that four out of every ten American workers are not 
        saving for retirement;
Whereas approximately 800,000 families filed for bankruptcy in 2007;
Whereas research shows that when employers offer financial education programs, 
        in the form of brochures or seminars, workers in the United States 
        increase their participation in retirement plans, which allow them to 
        save and invest for their own retirement;
Whereas the United States educational system should teach financial literacy 
        from elementary school through high school;
Whereas minorities in the United States are more likely to be financially 
        illiterate;
Whereas John Hope Bryant, founder of the nonprofit organization Operation HOPE, 
        has been working with minority and poor communities to educate children 
        and adults on the importance of financial literacy;
Whereas the mission of Operation HOPE mission is to expand economic opportunity 
        in underserved communities through economic education and empowerment;
Whereas on March 4, 2008, John Hope Bryant was appointed to a 2-year term on the 
        Advisory Board for the Office of Financial Empowerment of the City of 
        New York's Department of Consumer Affairs;
Whereas on January 22, 2008, President George W. Bush, appointed John Hope 
        Bryant to a 2-year term as Vice Chairman of the President's Advisory 
        Council on Financial Literacy;
Whereas on June 13, 2004, John Hope Bryant was appointed by President George W. 
        Bush to a 4-year term on the Community Development Advisory Board of the 
        Community Development Financial Institutions Fund of the Department of 
        the Treasury; and
Whereas on April 18, 2002, John Hope Bryant signed a memorandum of agreement 
        with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on behalf of Operation 
        HOPE, creating a partnership to educate the whole family in economic 
        literacy: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the efforts of the President's Advisory 
        Council on Financial Literacy in working with the public and 
        private sectors to increase financial education for youth in 
        school and for adults in the workplace, to increase access to 
        financial services, to establish measures of national financial 
        literacy, to conduct research on financial knowledge, and to 
        strengthen financial education programs; and
            (2) recognizes John Hope Bryant for his efforts to raise 
        awareness in the United States about the importance of 
        financial and economic literacy.
                                 <all>