III 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 258 

Supporting the designation of National Adult Education and Family Literacy 

Week. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 7, 2011 

Mrs. MURRAY (for herself, Mr. ALEXANDER, Mr. ENZI, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, 

Mr. WEBB, Mr. BEGICH, Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. CASEY, Ms. MURKOWSKI, and Ms. MIKULSKI) 

submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the designation of National Adult Education and 

Family Literacy Week. 

Whereas the National Assessment of Adult Literacy reports 

that approximately 90,000,000 adults in the United 

States lack the literacy, numeracy, or English language 

skills necessary to succeed at home, in the workplace, and 

in society; 

Whereas the literacy of the people of the United States is essential for the social and economic well-being of the 

United States, and literacy allows individuals to benefit 

from full participation in society; 


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Whereas the United States reaps the economic benefits from 

the efforts of individuals to raise their literacy, numeracy, 

and English language skills; 

Whereas literacy and educational skills are a prerequisite to 

individuals reaping the full benefit of opportunities in the 

United States; 

Whereas the economy and the position of the United States 

in the world marketplace depend on having a literate, 

skilled population; 

Whereas the unemployment rate in the United States is highest among individuals without a high school diploma or 

an equivalent credential, indicating that education is key 

to economic recovery; 

Whereas parents who are educated and read to their children 

directly impact the educational success of their children; 

Whereas parental involvement is a key predictor of a child’s 

success, and the level of parental involvement increases 

as the education level of the parent increases; 

Whereas parents in family literacy programs become more involved in their children’s education and gain the tools 

necessary to obtain a job or find better employment; 

Whereas, as a result of family literacy programs, children’s 

lives become more stable, and success in the classroom, 

and in all future endeavors, becomes more likely; 

Whereas adults need to be part of a long-term solution to the 

education challenges of the United States; 

Whereas many older people in the United States lack the 

reading, math, or English language skills necessary to 

read a prescription and follow medical instructions, endangering their lives and the lives of their loved ones; 


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Whereas many individuals who are unemployed, underemployed, or receive public assistance lack the literacy 

skills to obtain and keep a job to sustain their family, 

continue their education, or participate in job training 

programs; 

Whereas many high school dropouts do not have the literacy 

skills to complete their education, transition to postsecondary education or career and technical training, or become employed; 

Whereas a large percentage of individuals in prison have low 

educational skills, and prisoners without educational 

skills are more likely to return to prison once released; 

Whereas many immigrants to the United States do not have 

the literacy skills necessary to succeed in the United 

States; 

Whereas National Adult Education and Family Literacy week 

highlights the need to ensure that each and every citizen 

has the necessary literacy and educational skills to succeed at home, at work, and in society; and 

Whereas the week beginning September 12, 2011, would be 

an appropriate week to designate as National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the designation of National Adult 

3 Education and Family Literacy Week, including 

4 raising public awareness about the importance of 

5 adult education, workforce skills, and family literacy; 

6 (2) encourages people across the United States 

7 to support programs to assist those in need of adult 


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1 education, workforce skills upgrading, and family lit2 eracy programs; and 

3 (3) recognizes the importance of adult edu4 cation, workforce skills, and family literacy pro5 grams, and calls upon public, private, and non-profit 

6 stakeholders to support increased access to adult 

7 education and family literacy programs to ensure a 

8 literate society. 

Æ 


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