III 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 389 

Calling on Congress, schools, and State and local educational agencies to 

recognize the significant educational implications of dyslexia that must 

be addressed, and designating October 2019 as ‘‘National Dyslexia 

Awareness Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 30, 2019 

Mr. CASSIDY (for himself, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. GRAHAM, Mrs. CAPITO, Mr. 

MURPHY, Ms. WARREN, and Mr. KING) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Calling on Congress, schools, and State and local educational 

agencies to recognize the significant educational implications of dyslexia that must be addressed, and designating 

October 2019 as ‘‘National Dyslexia Awareness Month’’. 

Whereas dyslexia is— 

(1) defined as an unexpected difficulty in reading for 

an individual who has the intelligence to be a much better reader; and 

(2) most commonly caused by a difficulty in phonological processing (the appreciation of the individual 

sounds of spoken language), which affects the ability of 

an individual to speak, read, spell, and, often, the ability 

to learn a second language; 


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•SRES 389 ATS 

Whereas, the First Step Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–391; 

132 Stat. 5194) included a definition of dyslexia as part 

of the requirement of the Act to screen inmates for dyslexia upon intake in Federal prisons; 

Whereas the definition of dyslexia in section 3635 of title 18, 

United States Code, as added by section 101(a) of the 

First Step Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–391; 132 Stat. 

5195), is the first and only definition of dyslexia in a 

Federal statute; 

Whereas dyslexia is the most common learning disability and 

affects 80 to 90 percent of all individuals with a learning 

disability; 

Whereas dyslexia is persistent and highly prevalent, affecting 

as many as 1 out of every 5 individuals; 

Whereas dyslexia is a paradox, in that an individual with dyslexia may have both— 

(1) weaknesses in decoding that result in difficulties 

in accurate or fluent word recognition; and 

(2) strengths in higher-level cognitive functions, such 

as reasoning, critical thinking, concept formation, and 

problem solving; 

Whereas great progress has been made in understanding dyslexia on a scientific level, including the epidemiology and 

cognitive and neurobiological bases of dyslexia; 

Whereas the achievement gap between typical readers and 

dyslexic readers occurs as early as first grade; and 

Whereas early screening for, and early diagnosis of, dyslexia 

are critical for ensuring that individuals with dyslexia receive focused, evidence-based intervention that leads to 

fluent reading, the promotion of self-awareness and selfempowerment, and the provision of necessary accomVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:21 Oct 30, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR389.ATS SR389

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•SRES 389 ATS 

modations that ensure success in school and in life: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) calls on Congress, schools, and State and 

3 local educational agencies to recognize that dyslexia 

4 has significant educational implications that must be 

5 addressed; and 

6 (2) designates October 2019 as ‘‘National Dys7 lexia Awareness Month’’. 

Æ 


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