III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 814 

Designating September 2024 as ‘‘National Literacy Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 12, 2024 

Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. CASSIDY, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mrs. BLACKBURN, 

Mr. BRAUN, Mrs. BRITT, Mrs. CAPITO, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. 

HEINRICH, Mrs. HYDE-SMITH, Mr. KING, Mr. LANKFORD, Mr. ROMNEY, 

Mr. SANDERS, Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina, Mr. TUBERVILLE, Mr. 

WHITEHOUSE, Mr. WICKER, and Mr. CORNYN) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating September 2024 as ‘‘National Literacy Month’’. 

Whereas reading is a cornerstone for personal growth, economic opportunity, and a strong society; 

Whereas recent assessments, such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress, report unacceptably poor 

student reading proficiency, highlighting the need for effective literacy instruction; 

Whereas the Program for the International Assessment of 

Adult Competencies estimates that 48,000,000 adults in 

the United States cannot read above a third-grade level; 

Whereas educational disparities persist among students in 

various States and districts, particularly impacting stuVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:33 Sep 13, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR814.ATS SR814

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•SRES 814 ATS 

dents of color, those from low-income backgrounds, and 

English learners; 

Whereas citizens who struggle to achieve reading proficiency 

are less likely to graduate high school or be employed and 

are more likely to be incarcerated; 

Whereas the interim report by the National Reading Panel 

found that the cost to taxpayers of adult illiteracy is 

$224,000,000,000 per year and that United States companies lost nearly $40,000,000,000 annually because of 

illiteracy; 

Whereas reading proficiency is linked to economic mobility 

and overall life success; 

Whereas an interdisciplinary body of research, known as the 

science of reading, demonstrates the effectiveness of evidence-based reading strategies in improving literacy outcomes; 

Whereas access to print reading materials and robust content 

knowledge is essential for literacy success, with disparities affecting millions of children, particularly those from 

low-income households and communities of color; 

Whereas evidence-based reading strategies include reading instruction and interventions based on rigorous scientific 

research that have demonstrated effectiveness in improving literacy development and skills in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension; 

and 

Whereas the Federal Government currently invests in literacy 

education through programs under the Elementary and 

Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et 

seq.), the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (29 


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•SRES 814 ATS 

U.S.C. 3271 et seq.), and the Museum and Library Services Act (20 U.S.C. 9101 et seq.): Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates September 2024 as ‘‘National 

3 Literacy Month’’; and 

4 (2) calls on the Federal Government, States, lo5 calities, schools, libraries, nonprofit organizations, 

6 businesses, and the people of the United States to 

7 observe National Literacy Month with appropriate 

8 programs and activities. 

Æ 


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