[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 90 (Tuesday, June 24, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6286-S6287]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         NATIONAL LITERACY DAY

 Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, late last night, the Senate 
passed a resolution by a unanimous consent agreement establishing July 
2d of this year and the next as National Literacy Day. As the proud 
author of this measure, I want to acknowledge its passage and thank the 
53 Senators who joined me in cosponsoring this legislation.
  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

[[Page S6287]]

book. But for many of our citizens, these seemingly simple activities 
are impossible. This is so because they are illiterate. I am pleased 
that this resolution will be able to draw attention to the pressing 
issue of illiteracy. I thank my colleagues who have joined me in 
cosponsoring this important measure.
  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 couldn't 
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.
  Mr. President, I want to take this opportunity to thank the many 
citizens across the country who dedicate their lives to beating back 
the forces of illiteracy. I want to express my gratitude to the 
teachers, volunteers, parents, and others who donate their time and 
talent to help those who cannot read. In my own State of New Jersey, I 
want to give special recognition to Caryl Mackin-Wagner, executive 
director of Focus on Literacy, Inc., for her leadership on this issue. 
My thanks to all involved.
  Mr. President, 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 very pleased that we passed 
this resolution establishing July 2, 1997, and July 2, 1998, as 
National Literacy Day.

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