III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 69 

Designating March 2009 as ‘‘National Reading Month’’ and authorizing the 

collection of nonmonetary book donations in Senate office buildings during the period beginning March 9, 2009 and ending March 27, 2009 

from Senators and officers and employees of the Senate to assist elementary school students in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 9, 2009 

Mr. LAUTENBERG (for himself, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. HARKIN, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. 

REED, Mr. COCHRAN, Ms. SNOWE, Mr. KERRY, and Mr. JOHNSON) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating March 2009 as ‘‘National Reading Month’’ and 

authorizing the collection of nonmonetary book donations 

in Senate office buildings during the period beginning 

March 9, 2009 and ending March 27, 2009 from Senators and officers and employees of the Senate to assist 

elementary school students in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. 

Whereas literacy is a learned skill that is improved through 

practice and regular reading; 

Whereas public and school libraries play an important role in 

helping children learn to read and gain critical informaVerDate Nov 24 2008 22:00 Mar 11, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR69.ATS SR69

hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
2 

•SRES 69 ATS 

tion literacy skills by providing easy and free access to 

books and other information on a wide range of topics; 

Whereas the reading of books with children improves children’s language, cognitive, and literacy skills; 

Whereas research demonstrates that reading aloud with children is the single most important activity for helping 

them become successful readers; 

Whereas quality children’s books and the continued efforts of 

educators, parents, and volunteer reading partners can 

instill a love of reading that will last a lifetime; 

Whereas school reading programs provide students with a 

chance to improve their reading skills and take pleasure 

in stories; 

Whereas such programs have a profound and lasting positive 

impact on a child’s life through improved reading comprehension, motivation, and achievement, as well as improved overall academic performance, classroom behavior, 

self-confidence, and social skills; and 

Whereas all people of the United States can help celebrate 

the importance of reading by donating children’s books, 

volunteering to read to and mentor young students, and 

supporting public policies aimed at improving literacy 

rates: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, Notwithstanding any other rules and regu2 lations of the Senate— 

3 (1) the Senate designates March 2009 as ‘‘Na4 tional Reading Month’’; 

5 (2) a Senator or officer or employee of the Sen6 ate may solicit another Senator or officer or emVerDate Nov 24 2008 22:00 Mar 11, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR69.ATS SR69

hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS
3 

•SRES 69 ATS 

1 ployee of the Senate within Senate buildings for 

2 nonmonetary book donations during the period be3 ginning March 9, 2009 and ending March 27, 2009 

4 to assist elementary school students in the Wash5 ington, D.C. metropolitan area, if such solicitation 

6 does not otherwise violate any rule or regulation of 

7 the Senate or any Federal law; and 

8 (3) a Senator or officer or employee of the Sen9 ate may work with a nonprofit organization with re10 spect to the delivery of donations described in para11 graph (2). 

Æ 


hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with BILLS