III

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) (for himself, Mr. DURBIN, Mr.

LIEBERMAN, Mr. CONRAD, Mr. JOHNSON, Mr. EDWARDS, Mr.

TORRICELLI, Mr. MURKOWSKI, Mr. BIDEN, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mr. SARBANES, Mr. AKAKA, Mr. DODD, Mr. BYRD, Mr. DORGAN, Mr. CRAPO,

Mr. BAUCUS, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. BAYH, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr.

REID, Mr. BREAUX, Mr. WARNER, Mr. HELMS, Mr. KERRY, Mr.

ASHCROFT, Mr. INOUYE, Mr. MOYNIHAN, Ms. SNOWE, Mr. INHOFE, Mr.

SMITH of Oregon, Mr. THURMOND, Mr. BRYAN, Mr. ROBB, Mr. HAGEL,

Mr. STEVENS, Mr. GRAMS, Mr. SPECTER, Mr. MACK, Mr. BENNETT, Mr.

COVERDELL, Mr. CHAFEE, Mr. COCHRAN, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mrs. BOXER,

Mr. DOMENICI, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. WELLSTONE, Mr. LEAHY, Mr.

DASCHLE, and Mr. WYDEN) submitted the following resolution; which

was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

JULY 1, 1999

Considered and agreed to

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;
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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
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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

1 Resolved, That the Senate—

2 (1) designates both July 2, 1999, and July 2,

3 2000, as ‘‘National Literacy Day’’; and

4 (2) requests that the President issue a procla5 mation calling on the people of the United States to

6 observe ‘‘National Literacy Day’’ with appropriate

7 ceremonies and activities.

Æ