[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 814 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 814

       Designating September 2024 as ``National Literacy Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 12, 2024

Mr. Reed (for himself, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Van Hollen, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. 
Braun, Mrs. Britt, Mrs. Capito, Ms. Collins, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Heinrich, 
 Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. King, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Romney, Mr. Sanders, Mr. 
 Scott of South Carolina, Mr. Tuberville, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Wicker, 
     and Mr. Cornyn) submitted the following resolution; which was 
                        considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
       Designating September 2024 as ``National Literacy Month''.

Whereas reading is a cornerstone for personal growth, economic opportunity, and 
        a strong society;
Whereas recent assessments, such as the National Assessment of Educational 
        Progress, report unacceptably poor student reading proficiency, 
        highlighting the need for effective literacy instruction;
Whereas the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies 
        estimates that 48,000,000 adults in the United States cannot read above 
        a third-grade level;
Whereas educational disparities persist among students in various States and 
        districts, particularly impacting students of color, those from low-
        income backgrounds, and English learners;
Whereas citizens who struggle to achieve reading proficiency are less likely to 
        graduate high school or be employed and are more likely to be 
        incarcerated;
Whereas the interim report by the National Reading Panel found that the cost to 
        taxpayers of adult illiteracy is $224,000,000,000 per year and that 
        United States companies lost nearly $40,000,000,000 annually because of 
        illiteracy;
Whereas reading proficiency is linked to economic mobility and overall life 
        success;
Whereas an interdisciplinary body of research, known as the science of reading, 
        demonstrates the effectiveness of evidence-based reading strategies in 
        improving literacy outcomes;
Whereas access to print reading materials and robust content knowledge is 
        essential for literacy success, with disparities affecting millions of 
        children, particularly those from low-income households and communities 
        of color;
Whereas evidence-based reading strategies include reading instruction and 
        interventions based on rigorous scientific research that have 
        demonstrated effectiveness in improving literacy development and skills 
        in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension; 
        and
Whereas the Federal Government currently invests in literacy education through 
        programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (29 
        U.S.C. 3271 et seq.), and the Museum and Library Services Act (20 U.S.C. 
        9101 et seq.): Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates September 2024 as ``National Literacy 
        Month''; and
            (2) calls on the Federal Government, States, localities, 
        schools, libraries, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and 
        the people of the United States to observe National Literacy 
        Month with appropriate programs and activities.
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