[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 94 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 94

        Designating March 2017 as ``National Read Aloud Month''.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 23, 2017

   Mr. Portman (for himself and Ms. Harris) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

                             April 4, 2017

             Committee discharged; considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
        Designating March 2017 as ``National Read Aloud Month''.

Whereas medical experts have concluded that reading aloud is the ``single most 
        important'' activity in which parents can participate in order to 
        prepare their children to read and learn;
Whereas recent research has concluded that, by 3 years of age, there is a gap in 
        early brain development between children whose parents read to them and 
        children whose parents do not;
Whereas Congress has highlighted the importance of early childhood literacy by 
        including funding for State comprehensive literacy plans and targeted 
        funds toward early childhood education programs in the Every Student 
        Succeeds Act (Public Law 114-95; 129 Stat. 1802);
Whereas, in 2013, Read Aloud 15 MINUTES launched a decade-long national campaign 
        highlighting the importance of reading aloud to children, starting from 
        birth; and
Whereas Read Aloud 15 MINUTES now has more than 21 National Leadership Partners 
        and 10,000 grassroots partners, including day care facilities, schools, 
        libraries, health centers, and rotary clubs in all 50 States: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates March 2017 as ``National Read Aloud Month''; 
        and
            (2) encourages parents and guardians to read to their 
        children for 15 minutes every day because of the developmental 
        benefits that activity has for children.
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