[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 142 (Thursday, September 12, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S6023]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 814--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 2024 AS ``NATIONAL 
                            LITERACY MONTH''

  Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Van Hollen, Mrs. Blackburn, 
Mr. Braun, Mrs. Britt, Mrs. Capito, Ms. Collins, Mr. Durbin, Mr. 
Heinrich, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. King, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Romney, Mr. 
Sanders, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. Tuberville, Mr. Whitehouse, 
Mr. Wicker, and Mr. Cornyn) submitted the following resolution; which 
was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 814

       Whereas reading is a cornerstone for personal growth, 
     economic opportunity, and a strong society;
       Whereas recent assessments, such as the National Assessment 
     of Educational Progress, report unacceptably poor student 
     reading proficiency, highlighting the need for effective 
     literacy instruction;
       Whereas the Program for the International Assessment of 
     Adult Competencies estimates that 48,000,000 adults in the 
     United States cannot read above a third-grade level;
       Whereas educational disparities persist among students in 
     various States and districts, particularly impacting students 
     of color, those from low-income backgrounds, and English 
     learners;
       Whereas citizens who struggle to achieve reading 
     proficiency are less likely to graduate high school or be 
     employed and are more likely to be incarcerated;
       Whereas the interim report by the National Reading Panel 
     found that the cost to taxpayers of adult illiteracy is 
     $224,000,000,000 per year and that United States companies 
     lost nearly $40,000,000,000 annually because of illiteracy;
       Whereas reading proficiency is linked to economic mobility 
     and overall life success;
       Whereas an interdisciplinary body of research, known as the 
     science of reading, demonstrates the effectiveness of 
     evidence-based reading strategies in improving literacy 
     outcomes;
       Whereas access to print reading materials and robust 
     content knowledge is essential for literacy success, with 
     disparities affecting millions of children, particularly 
     those from low-income households and communities of color;
       Whereas evidence-based reading strategies include reading 
     instruction and interventions based on rigorous scientific 
     research that have demonstrated effectiveness in improving 
     literacy development and skills in phonemic awareness, 
     phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension; and
       Whereas the Federal Government currently invests in 
     literacy education through programs under the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), the 
     Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (29 U.S.C. 3271 et 
     seq.), and the Museum and Library Services Act (20 U.S.C. 
     9101 et seq.): Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates September 2024 as ``National Literacy 
     Month''; and
       (2) calls on the Federal Government, States, localities, 
     schools, libraries, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and 
     the people of the United States to observe National Literacy 
     Month with appropriate programs and activities.

                          ____________________