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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 430 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 430

 Designating October 20, 2023, as ``National Early Childhood Literacy 
                            Awareness Day''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 25, 2023

   Mr. Manchin (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mrs. Capito, and Mr. King) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Designating October 20, 2023, as ``National Early Childhood Literacy 
                            Awareness Day''.

Whereas many children from families with low incomes begin school already far 
        behind children from families with higher incomes;
Whereas research shows that children from families with low incomes are less 
        likely to have interactions that are critical for language development, 
        including--

    (1) being read to or spoken to regularly;

    (2) having access to books;

    (3) having a literacy-rich environment; and

    (4) accessing high-quality early childhood education programs;

Whereas language development is an important precursor to literacy;
Whereas access to high-quality early childhood education programs can support 
        early childhood language development and literacy;
Whereas, as early as 3 years of age, the vocabulary of a child can predict the 
        future third-grade reading proficiency of the child;
Whereas, during the first 3 years of life, children from families with low-
        incomes can hear as many as 30,000,000 fewer words than children from 
        more affluent families;
Whereas, in 2022, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (referred to 
        in this preamble as ``NAEP'') reported that--

    (1) 66 percent of fourth-grade public school students nationally 
performed below the NAEP proficient level in reading; and

    (2) 37 percent of fourth-grade public school students nationally 
performed below the NAEP basic level in reading; and

Whereas awareness of early childhood literacy issues must be heightened to 
        encourage greater support to help children achieve reading proficiency: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates October 20, 2023, as ``National Early 
        Childhood Literacy Awareness Day'';
            (2) encourages States, localities, schools, early childhood 
        education programs, and nonprofit organizations to observe the 
        day with appropriate programs and activities, with the goal of 
        increasing public awareness about early childhood literacy 
        issues;
            (3) recognizes the need to make early childhood literacy a 
        public priority;
            (4) supports the efforts of businesses, State and local 
        governments, early childhood education programs, nonprofit 
        organizations, educators, and volunteers dedicated to 
        increasing childhood literacy rates;
            (5) applauds the initiatives of businesses, State and local 
        governments, early childhood education programs, nonprofit 
        organizations, educators, and volunteers that--
                    (A) use time and resources to address early 
                childhood literacy issues, the causes of poor reading 
                scores, and potential solutions to those issues; and
                    (B) work to promote the love of reading among 
                children; and
            (6) encourages parents, other family members, and 
        caregivers to introduce children to the world of books and 
        other literacy activities in different ways, including by--
                    (A) reading to children;
                    (B) telling stories;
                    (C) teaching letters and words; and
                    (D) visiting libraries.
                                 <all>
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