[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 16 (Thursday, February 26, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S1130]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY

  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 317, S. Res. 
181, reported today by the Judiciary Committee.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 181) expressing the sense of the 
     Senate that on March 2nd, every child in America should be in 
     the company of someone who will read to him or her.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. CHAFEE. I ask unanimous consent, Mr. President, that the 
resolution and preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table, and further, that any statements relating to 
the resolution be printed in the Record at the appropriate place.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 181) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:

                              S. Res. 181

       Whereas reading is a basic skill for a quality education, a 
     requirement for a successful life's work, and a source of 
     pleasure throughout life;
       Whereas reading ability is essential to our nation's 
     ability to remain competitive in a global economy;
       Whereas the American Library Association, the National 
     Family Literacy Council, the National Association of 
     Elementary School Principals, Reading Is Fundamental, the 
     International Reading Association, the Boys and Girls Clubs 
     of America, and others have joined with the National 
     Education Association to use March 2nd as a national day to 
     celebrate reading: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) March 2nd, 1998 shall be known as ``Read Across America 
     Day'' to focus on the basic component of learning; and
       (2) every child should be in the company of someone who 
     will read to him or her on March 2nd, Dr. Seuss's birthday; 
     and
       (3) the success of Dr. Seuss and many others like him in 
     encouraging children to discover the joy of books is 
     applauded; and
       (4) all parents are encouraged to read with their children 
     for at least one half hour on March 2nd in honor of Dr. Seuss 
     to help us realize the goal of having the best readers in the 
     world.

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