III 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 546 

Designating the week of September 10, 2012, as ‘‘National Adult Education 

and Family Literacy Week’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

AUGUST 2, 2012 

Mrs. MURRAY (for herself, Mr. ALEXANDER, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. WEBB, Mr. 

WHITEHOUSE, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota, Ms. MURKOWSKI, and Mr. ENZI) submitted the following resolution; which was 

considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the week of September 10, 2012, as ‘‘National 

Adult Education and Family Literacy Week’’. 

Whereas the National Assessment of Adult Literacy reports 

that 90,000,000 adults 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 economic and societal well-being of the 

United States; 

Whereas the United States reaps the economic benefits of individuals who improve their literacy, numeracy, and 

English-language skills; 


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•SRES 546 ATS 

Whereas literacy and educational skills are necessary for individuals to fully benefit from the range of opportunities 

available in the United States; 

Whereas the United States’ economy and position in the 

world marketplace depend on having a literate, skilled 

population; 

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

equivalent credential, demonstrating that education is important to economic recovery; 

Whereas the educational skills of a child’s parents and the 

practice of reading to a child have a direct impact on the 

educational success of the child; 

Whereas parental involvement in a child’s education is a key 

predictor of a child’s success, and the level of parental involvement in a child’s education increases as the educational level of the parent increases; 

Whereas parents who participate 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, the lives of 

children become more stable, and their success in the 

classroom and in future endeavors becomes more likely; 

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

educational challenges of the United States; 

Whereas many older people in the United States lack the 

reading, math, or English skills necessary to read a prescription and follow medical instructions, which endangers 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 necessary to obtain and keep a job to provide for 

their families, to continue their education, or to participate in job training programs; 

Whereas many high school dropouts do not have the literacy 

skills necessary to complete their education, transition to 

postsecondary education or career and technical training, 

or obtain a job; 

Whereas a large portion 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 in the United States do not have 

the literacy skills necessary to succeed in the United 

States; and 

Whereas National Adult Education and Family Literacy 

Week highlights the need to ensure each and every citizen 

has the literacy skills necessary to succeed at home, at 

work, and in society: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates the week of September 10, 2012 

3 as ‘‘National Adult Education and Family Literacy 

4 Week’’ to raise public awareness about the impor5 tance of adult education, workforce skills, and family 

6 literacy; 

7 (2) encourages people across the United States 

8 to support programs to assist those in need of adult 

9 education, workforce skills, and family literacy pro10 grams; 


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•SRES 546 ATS 

1 (3) recognizes the importance of adult edu2 cation, workforce skills, and family literacy pro3 grams; and 

4 (4) calls upon public, private, and nonprofit en5 tities to support increased access to adult education 

6 and family literacy programs to ensure a literate so7 ciety. 

Æ 


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