[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 70 (Friday, May 23, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S5140]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        SENATE RESOLUTION 92--RELATIVE TO NATIONAL LITERACY DAY

  Mr. LAUTENBERG submitted a resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary:

                               S. Res. 92

       Whereas 44,000,000 United States citizens today read at a 
     level that is less than the level necessary for full survival 
     needs;
       Whereas there are 40,000,000 adults in the United States 
     who cannot read, whose resources are left untapped, and who 
     are unable to make a full contribution to society;
       Whereas illiteracy is growing rapidly, as 2,500,000 
     persons, including as many as 1,300,000 immigrants, 1,500,000 
     high school dropouts, and 100,000 refugees, are added to the 
     pool of illiterate persons 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 $230,000,000,000;
       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 who are unable to perform at the standard 
     necessary for available employment and the money allocated to 
     child welfare and unemployment compensation;
       Whereas the percentage of illiterate persons in proportion 
     to population percentage is higher for African Americans and 
     Hispanics, resulting in increased economic and social 
     discrimination against these minorities;
       Whereas the prison population represents the highest 
     concentration of adult illiteracy;
       Whereas 1,000,000 children in the United States between the 
     ages of 12 and 17 years old cannot read above a third grade 
     level, 13 percent of all 17-year-olds are functionally 
     illiterate, and 15 percent of graduates of urban high schools 
     read at less than a sixth grade level;
       Whereas 85 percent of the juveniles who appear in criminal 
     court are functionally illiterate;
       Whereas the 47 percent illiteracy rate among African 
     American youths is expected to increase;
       Whereas \1/2\ of all heads of households cannot read above 
     an eighth grade level and \1/3\ of all mothers on welfare are 
     functionally illiterate;
       Whereas the cycle of illiteracy continues because the 
     children of illiterate parents are often illiterate 
     themselves due to the lack of support the children receive 
     from their home environment;
       Whereas Federal, State, municipal, and private literacy 
     programs have been able to reach only 5 percent of the total 
     illiterate population;
       Whereas it is vital to call attention to the problem of 
     illiteracy, to understand the severity of the illiteracy 
     problem and the detrimental effects of illiteracy 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 necessary to recognize and thank the 
     thousands of volunteers who are working to promote literacy 
     and provide support to the millions of illiterate persons in 
     need of assistance: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates July 2, 1997, and July 2, 1998, as 
     ``National Literacy Day''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling on the people of the United States to observe 
     ``National Literacy Day'' with appropriate ceremonies and 
     activities.

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, today I rise to submit a resolution 
establishing July 2 of this year and the next as National Literacy Day.
  Mr. President, the ability to read is something most of us often take 
for granted. For most of us, it is difficult to imagine not being able 
to read a menu, street sign, magazine or phone book. But for many of 
our citizens, these seemingly simple activities are impossible. This is 
so because they are illiterate. I am submitting this resolution to draw 
attention to the issue of illiteracy by establishing July 2, 1997 and 
the following year as National Literacy Day. I hope my colleagues will 
cosponsor this resolution.
  All of us should be more aware of the problem of illiteracy. A recent 
study found that over 44 million adults cannot read. An additional 35 
million read below the level needed to function successfully in 
society. These numbers alone are alarming and warrant our special 
attention. But even more disturbing are the personal hardships people 
must face each day due to their inability to read. The embarrassment 
parents face when they cannot read to their children. The 
discouragement able workers feel when they cannot fill out a basic job 
application. The disappointment we all endure as the ranks of the 
illiterate grow annually by over 2 million adults.
  Mr. President, the 18th Century writer, Joseph Addison, once wrote 
``Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.'' I could not 
agree more. Reading enriches our lives in countless ways. But there are 
far too many of our citizens who cannot read the instructions on a 
doctor's prescription bottle, let alone share the experience of reading 
one of Addison's great poems. This needs to change.
  Therefore, we must focus our attention on the problem of illiteracy. 
All of us should make sure we do our part to ensure that citizens who 
need help know where services are available. We need to recognize the 
detrimental effects illiteracy has on our society. Most important, more 
of us need to enlist in the battle to close the book on illiteracy.
  Mr. President, for these reasons, I am submitting a resolution to 
designate July 2, 1997 and July, 2, 1998 as National Literacy Day. I 
urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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