[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 87 (Thursday, June 29, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S6778]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         NATIONAL LITERACY DAY

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the 21st 
anniversary of National Literacy Day, designated on July 2, 1985, by 
President Ronald Reagan.
  In 1986, Caryl Mackin-Wagner, the executive director for Focus on 
Literacy Inc., worked with Congress to establish recognition by a 
Senate resolution of a National Literacy Day, which Congress has 
honored each year since.
  Caryl Mackin-Wagner established Focus on Literacy, Inc., to bring a 
greater awareness to the problem of illiteracy in our Nation and to 
promote effective ways to address this problem while improving the 
reading skills of children and adults in America.
  Developing one's reading and writing skills is a necessary tool to 
succeeding in this world today. It is extremely important that 
Americans continue to advance in order to bring about a more successful 
nation as a whole. We must not ignore the fact that there are many 
individuals who are not well educated and who are not contributing to 
society in ways that they could. What is cause for concern is that with 
inadequate education, people don't reach their full potential and 
contribute all that they can to our Nation. On Sunday, July 2, Congress 
will recognize the significance of improving the literacy of 
individuals, which further contributes to the growth of our society.
  Each year, Congress honors National Literacy Day to celebrate 
literary accomplishments, which have contributed to developing a better 
and more educated society. As Caryl Mackin-Wagner has said, 
``Illiterate individuals are our untapped resource for they possess 
underutilized talents and abilities.''
  Through hard work and a commitment to helping others, Focus on 
Literacy, Inc. has made remarkable strides in the battle for literacy 
and I am proud to salute its efforts on National Literacy Day.

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