II
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. J. RES. 213
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
JUNE 30, 1993
Received and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
JULY 1 (legislative day, JUNE 30), 1993
Committee discharged
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 mil-
lion high school dropouts, and one hundred thousand ref-
ugees, 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;
HJ 213 CDS
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
illiterate adults unable to perform at the standard nec-
essary for available employment and the money allocated
to child welfare and unemployment compensation;
Whereas the percentage of illiterates in proportion to popu-
lation 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
concentration 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 grad-
uates of urban high schools read at less than a sixth
grade level;
Whereas 85 per centum of the juveniles who appear in crimi-
nal 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 envi-
ronment;
HJ 213 CDS
Whereas Federal, State, municipal, and private literacy pro-
grams 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 illit-
eracy, 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 thou-
sands 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 ap-
propriate ceremonies and activities.
Passed the House of Representatives June 29, 1993.
Attest:
DONNALD K. ANDERSON,
Clerk.