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[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 59 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 59

Designating both July 2, 1999, and July 2, 2000, as ``National Literacy 
                                 Day''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 8, 1999

 Mr. Daschle (for Mr. Lautenberg) submitted the following resolution; 
          which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Designating both July 2, 1999, and July 2, 2000, as ``National Literacy 
                                 Day''.

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.
                                 <all>
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