III 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 355 

Designating the week of September 22 through 28, 2019, as ‘‘National 

Adult Education and Family Literacy Week’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 

Mrs. MURRAY (for herself, Mr. ALEXANDER, Mr. REED, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. 

DURBIN, Mr. MURPHY, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, and Mr. KING) submitted the 

following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the week of September 22 through 28, 2019, 

as ‘‘National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week’’. 

Whereas the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and 

Development reports that approximately 36,000,000 

adults in the United States lack the basic literacy and 

numeracy necessary to succeed at home, in the workplace, and in society; 

Whereas the literacy of the people of the United States is essential for the economic and societal well-being of the 

United States; 

Whereas the United States reaps the economic benefits of individuals who improve their literacy, numeracy, and 

English-language skills; 


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•SRES 355 ATS 

Whereas literacy and educational skills are necessary for individuals to fully benefit from the range of opportunities 

available in the United States; 

Whereas the economy and position of the United States in 

the world marketplace depend on having a literate, skilled 

population; 

Whereas the unemployment rate in the United States is highest among those without a high school diploma or an 

equivalent credential, demonstrating that education is important to economic recovery; 

Whereas the educational skills of the parents of a child and 

the practice of reading to a child have a direct impact on 

the educational success of the child; 

Whereas parental involvement in the education of a child is 

a key predictor of the success of a child, and the level 

of parental involvement in the education of a child increases as the educational level of the parent increases; 

Whereas parents who participate in family literacy programs 

become more involved in the education of their children 

and gain the tools necessary to obtain a job or find better 

employment; 

Whereas, as a result of family literacy programs, the lives of 

children become more stable, and the success of children 

in the classroom and in future endeavors becomes more 

likely; 

Whereas adults need to be part of a long-term solution to the 

educational challenges faced by the people of the United 

States; 

Whereas many older people in the United States lack the 

reading, math, or English-language skills necessary to 

read a prescription and follow medical instructions, which 


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•SRES 355 ATS 

endangers the lives of the older people and the lives of 

their loved ones; 

Whereas many individuals who are unemployed, underemployed, or receive public assistance lack the literacy 

skills necessary to obtain and keep a job, to continue 

their education, or to participate in job training programs; 

Whereas many high school dropouts do not have the literacy 

skills necessary to complete their education, transition to 

postsecondary education or career and technical training, 

or obtain a job; 

Whereas a large portion of individuals in prison have low 

educational skills, and prisoners without educational 

skills are more likely to return to prison once released; 

Whereas many immigrants in the United States do not have 

the literacy skills necessary to succeed in the United 

States; and 

Whereas National Adult Education and Family Literacy 

Week highlights the need to ensure that each individual 

in the United States has the literacy skills necessary to 

succeed at home, at work, and in society: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates the week of September 22 

3 through 28, 2019, as ‘‘National Adult Education 

4 and Family Literacy Week’’ to raise public aware5 ness about the importance of adult education, work6 force skills, and family literacy; 


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•SRES 355 ATS 

1 (2) encourages people across the United States 

2 to support programs to assist individuals in need of 

3 adult education, workforce skills, and family literacy 

4 programs; 

5 (3) recognizes the importance of adult edu6 cation, workforce skills, and family literacy pro7 grams; and 

8 (4) calls on public, private, and nonprofit enti9 ties to support increased access to adult education 

10 and family literacy programs to ensure a literate so11 ciety. 

Æ 


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