[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 169 (Thursday, October 19, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S6656]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 299--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF 
          OCTOBER 20, 2017, AS THE ``NATIONAL DAY ON WRITING''

  Mr. CASEY (for himself, Mr. Roberts, and Mr. Wicker) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 299

       Whereas people in the 21st century are writing more than 
     ever before for personal, professional, and civic purposes;
       Whereas the social nature of writing invites people of 
     every age, profession, and walk of life to create meaning 
     through composing;
       Whereas more and more people in every occupation consider 
     writing to be essential and influential in their work;
       Whereas individuals who write continue to learn how to 
     write for different purposes, audiences, and occasions 
     throughout their lifetimes;
       Whereas developing digital technologies expand the 
     possibilities for composing in multiple media at a faster 
     pace than ever before;
       Whereas young people are leading the way in developing new 
     forms of composing by using different forms of digital media;
       Whereas effective communication contributes to building a 
     global economy and a global community;
       Whereas the National Council of Teachers of English, in 
     conjunction with its many national and local partners, honors 
     and celebrates the importance of writing through the National 
     Day on Writing;
       Whereas the National Day on Writing celebrates the 
     foundational place of writing in the personal, professional, 
     and civic lives of the people of the United States;
       Whereas the National Day on Writing highlights the 
     importance of writing instruction and practice at every 
     educational level and in every subject area;
       Whereas the National Day on Writing emphasizes the lifelong 
     process of learning to write and compose for different 
     audiences, purposes, and occasions;
       Whereas the National Day on Writing honors the use of the 
     full range of media for composing, from traditional tools, 
     including print, audio, and video, to social media, including 
     Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and Internet website tools, 
     including blogs, wikis, and podcasts;
       Whereas the National Day on Writing encourages all people 
     of the United States and overseas to write, enjoy, and learn 
     from the writing of others;
       Whereas, since the inception of the hashtag #WhyIWrite in 
     2009, the hashtag has generated hundreds of thousands of 
     tweets and reached millions of people, encouraging students, 
     from elementary school through the university level, 
     athletes, authors, and artists from all over the world to 
     participate;
       Whereas, since October 2016, the #WhyIWrite podcast has 
     brought the voices of prominent authors of all genres and 
     mediums into the conversation around the power of the written 
     word; and
       Whereas, on the National Day of Writing in 2017, the 
     National Council of Teachers of English encourages all people 
     of the United States to tell others #WhyIWrite through print, 
     social media, or other means: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the designation of October 20, 2017, as the 
     ``National Day on Writing'';
       (2) strongly affirms the purposes of the National Day on 
     Writing; and
       (3) encourages educational institutions, businesses, 
     community and civic associations, and other organizations to 
     celebrate and promote the National Day on Writing.

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