[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15342]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




DESIGNATING JULY 2, 1999 AND JULY 2, 2000, AS ``NATIONAL LITERACY DAY''

  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar No. 197, S. Res. 59.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 59) designating both July 2, 1999, 
     and July 2, 2000, as ``National Literacy Day''.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution and preamble be agreed to, en bloc, the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating thereto be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 59) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res 59

       Whereas 44,000,000 people living in the United States read 
     at a level lower than is required to fully function in 
     society and to earn a living wage;
       Whereas approximately 22 percent of adults in the United 
     States cannot read, leaving valuable resources untapped, and 
     depriving those adults of the opportunity to make a 
     meaningful contribution to society;
       Whereas people who have the lowest literacy skills are 
     closely connected to social problems such as poverty, crime, 
     welfare, and unemployment.
       Whereas 43 percent of all adults functioning at the lowest 
     literacy levels live in poverty;
       Whereas prisons hold the highest concentration of 
     illiterate adults, with 7 of 10 prisoners functioning at the 
     lowest literacy levels;
       Whereas the likelihood of receiving welfare assistance 
     increases as the level of literacy decreases;
       Whereas 3 of 4 food stamp recipients function at the lowest 
     literacy levels;
       Whereas millions of Americans are unable to hold a job or 
     fully function in the workplace because they cannot read well 
     enough to perform routine uncomplicated tasks;
       Whereas almost 38 percent of African Americans and 
     approximately 56 percent of Hispanics are illiterate, 
     compared to only 14 percent of the Caucasian population, with 
     such a disparity resulting in increased social and economic 
     discrimination against those minorities;
       Whereas 35 percent of older Americans operate at the lowest 
     literacy levels, making it difficult to read basic medical 
     instructions, thus prolonging illnesses and risking the 
     occurrence of emergency medical conditions;
       Whereas the cycle of illiteracy continues because children 
     of illiterate parents are often illiterate themselves because 
     of the lack of support they receive from their home 
     environment;
       Whereas Federal, State, municipal, and private literacy 
     programs have been able to reach fewer than 10 percent of the 
     total illiterate population;
       Whereas it is vital to call attention to the problem of 
     illiteracy, to understand the severity of the illiteracy 
     problem and the detrimental effects of illiteracy on our 
     society, and to reach those who are illiterate and unaware of 
     the free services and help available to them; and
       Whereas it is necessary to recognize and thank the 
     thousands of volunteers and organizations, like Focus on 
     Literacy, Inc., that work to promote literacy and provide 
     support to the millions of illiterate persons needing 
     assistance: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates both July 2, 1999, and July 2, 2000, as 
     ``National Literacy Day''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling on the people of the United States to observe 
     ``National Literacy Day'' with appropriate ceremonies and 
     activities.

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