[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 89 (Monday, June 23, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S6103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         NATIONAL LITERACY DAY

  Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 81, Senate 
Resolution 92.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 92) designating July 2, 1997, and 
     July 2, 1998, as ``National Literacy Day.''

  The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution.
  Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the resolution 
appear at the appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 92) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:

                               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.

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