H. J. Res. 213

One Hundred Third Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE FIRST SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,

the fifth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-three

Joint Resolution

Designating July 2, 1993 and July 2, 1994 as ‘‘National Literacy Day’’.

Whereas forty-two million Americans today read at a level which

is less than necessary for full survival needs;

Whereas there are thirty million adults in the United States who

cannot read, whose resources are left untapped, and who are

unable to offer their full contribution to society;

Whereas illiteracy is growing rapidly, as two million three hundred

thousand persons, including one million two hundred thousand

legal and illegal immigrants, one million high school dropouts,

and one hundred thousand refugees, are added to the pool of

illiterates annually;

Whereas the annual cost of illiteracy to the United States in terms

of welfare expenditures, crime, prison expenses, lost revenues,

and industrial and military accidents has been estimated at

$225,000,000,000;

Whereas the competitiveness of the United States is eroded by

the presence in the workplace of millions of Americans who

are functionally or technologically illiterate;

Whereas there is a direct correlation between the number of illiterate adults unable to perform at the standard necessary for

available employment and the money allocated to child welfare

and unemployment compensation;

Whereas the percentage of illiterates in proportion to population

size is higher for blacks and Hispanics, resulting in increased

economic and social discrimination against these minorities;

Whereas the prison population represents the single highest concentration of adult illiteracy;

Whereas one million children in the United States between the

ages of twelve and seventeen cannot read above a third grade

level, 13 per centum of all seventeen-year-olds are functionally

illiterate, and 15 per centum of graduates of urban high schools

read at less than a sixth grade level;

Whereas 85 per centum of the juveniles who appear in criminal

court are functionally illiterate;

Whereas the 47 per centum illiteracy rate among black youths

is expected to increase;

Whereas one-half of all heads of households cannot read past the

eighth grade level and one-third of all mothers on welfare are

functionally illiterate;

Whereas the cycle of illiteracy continues because the children of

illiterate parents are often illiterate themselves because of the

lack of support they receive from their home environment;
H. J. Res. 213—2

Whereas Federal, State, municipal, and private literacy programs

have only been able to reach 5 per centum of the total illiterate

population;

Whereas it is vital to call attention to the problem of illiteracy,

to understand the severity of the problem and its detrimental

effects 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 also necessary to recognize and thank the thousands

of volunteers who are working to promote literacy and provide

support to the millions of illiterates in need of assistance: Now,

therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the

United States of America in Congress assembled, That July 2, 1993

and July 2, 1994 are designated as ‘‘National Literacy Day’’, and

the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation

calling upon the people of the United States to observe such day

with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.