H. J. Res. 213
One Hundred Third Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE FIRST SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the fifth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-three
Joint Resolution
Designating July 2, 1993 and July 2, 1994 as ‘‘National Literacy Day’’.
Whereas forty-two million Americans today read at a level which
is less than necessary for full survival needs;
Whereas there are thirty million adults in the United States who
cannot read, whose resources are left untapped, and who are
unable to offer their full contribution to society;
Whereas illiteracy is growing rapidly, as two million three hundred
thousand persons, including one million two hundred thousand
legal and illegal immigrants, one million high school dropouts,
and one hundred thousand refugees, are added to the pool of
illiterates annually;
Whereas the annual cost of illiteracy to the United States in terms
of welfare expenditures, crime, prison expenses, lost revenues,
and industrial and military accidents has been estimated at
$225,000,000,000;
Whereas the competitiveness of the United States is eroded by
the presence in the workplace of millions of Americans who
are functionally or technologically illiterate;
Whereas there is a direct correlation between the number of illit-
erate adults unable to perform at the standard necessary for
available employment and the money allocated to child welfare
and unemployment compensation;
Whereas the percentage of illiterates in proportion to population
size is higher for blacks and Hispanics, resulting in increased
economic and social discrimination against these minorities;
Whereas the prison population represents the single highest con-
centration of adult illiteracy;
Whereas one million children in the United States between the
ages of twelve and seventeen cannot read above a third grade
level, 13 per centum of all seventeen-year-olds are functionally
illiterate, and 15 per centum of graduates of urban high schools
read at less than a sixth grade level;
Whereas 85 per centum of the juveniles who appear in criminal
court are functionally illiterate;
Whereas the 47 per centum illiteracy rate among black youths
is expected to increase;
Whereas one-half of all heads of households cannot read past the
eighth grade level and one-third of all mothers on welfare are
functionally illiterate;
Whereas the cycle of illiteracy continues because the children of
illiterate parents are often illiterate themselves because of the
lack of support they receive from their home environment;
H. J. Res. 213—2
Whereas Federal, State, municipal, and private literacy programs
have only been able to reach 5 per centum of the total illiterate
population;
Whereas it is vital to call attention to the problem of illiteracy,
to understand the severity of the problem and its detrimental
effects on our society, and to reach those who are illiterate and
unaware of the free services and help available to them; and
Whereas it is also necessary to recognize and thank the thousands
of volunteers who are working to promote literacy and provide
support to the millions of illiterates in need of assistance: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That July 2, 1993
and July 2, 1994 are designated as ‘‘National Literacy Day’’, and
the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation
calling upon the people of the United States to observe such day
with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.