IV 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 535 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 2, 2014 Mr. Hinojosa (for himself and Mr. Stivers ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform RESOLUTION Supporting the goals and ideals of Financial Literacy Month .

Whereas personal financial literacy is essential to ensure that individuals are prepared to make informed financial choices so that they can become successful heads of household, investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders; Whereas financial education is the first line of defense against financial fraud and securing a prosperous future; Whereas according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, at least 28.2 percent of households in the United States are unbanked or underbanked and, subsequently, have missed opportunities for savings, lending, and basic financial services; Whereas almost 55.3 percent of Black households, and 48.6 percent of Hispanic households are either unbanked or underbanked; Whereas according to the 2013 Consumer Financial Literacy Survey Final Report of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, 40 percent of adults in the United States gave themselves a grade of C, D, or F on their knowledge of personal finance; Whereas the 2014 Retirement Confidence Survey conducted by the Employee Benefit Research Institute found that only 18 percent of workers were very confident about having enough money for a comfortable retirement, up by 5 percent points from the previous year, but a sharp decline in worker confidence from the 27 percent of workers who were very confident in 2007; Whereas according to the 2014 Retirement Confidence Survey conducted by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, less than half of workers (44 percent) in the United States have tried to calculate how much they need to save for retirement; Whereas the 2014 Retirement Confidence Survey conducted by the Employee Benefit Research Institute found that 58 percent of workers and 44 percent of retirees report having a problem with their level of debt; Whereas according to a 2014 Flow of Funds report by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, household debt stood at $13,100,000,000,000 at the end of the fourth quarter of 2013; Whereas according to the 2013 Consumer Financial Literacy Survey Final Report of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, 26 percent, or more than 61,000,000 adults, admit to not paying all of their bills on time, a decrease from 33 percent or 77,000,000 adults in 2012; Whereas according to the 2013 Consumer Financial Literacy Survey Final Report of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, only 40 percent of adults keep close track of their spending; Whereas according to the 2013 Consumer Financial Literacy Survey Final Report of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, 31 percent of adults in the United States report that they have no savings, and 43 percent of United States adults say they are saving less in 2013 than the year before; Whereas according to the seventh Council for Economic Education biennial Survey of the States 2014: Economic, Personal Finance, and Entrepreneurship Education in Our Nation's Schools, only 22 States require students to take an economics course as a high school graduation requirement, and only 16 States require the testing of student knowledge in economics, down from 25 in 1998; Whereas according to the seventh Council for Economic Education biennial Survey of the States 2014: Economic, Personal Finance, and Entrepreneurship Education in Our Nation's Schools, only 17 States require students to take a personal finance course either independently or as part of an economics course as a high school graduation requirement; Whereas according to the 2013 Girl Scout Research Institute's report, Having It All: Girls & Financial Literacy , 90 percent of girls say it is important to learn how to manage money but just 12 percent say they feel confident in making financial decisions; Whereas expanding access to the mainstream financial system will provide individuals with less expensive and more secure options for managing finances and building wealth; Whereas quality personal financial education is essential to ensure that individuals are prepared to manage money, credit, and debt, and to become responsible workers, heads of households, investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and citizens; Whereas increased financial literacy empowers individuals to make wise financial decisions and reduces the confusion caused by an increasingly complex economy; Whereas a greater understanding of, and familiarity with, financial markets and institutions will lead to increased economic activity and growth; Whereas in 2003, Congress found it important to coordinate Federal financial literacy efforts and formulate a national strategy; and Whereas in light of that finding, Congress passed the Financial Literacy and Education Improvement Act, establishing the Financial Literacy and Education Commission: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) supports the goals and ideals of Financial Literacy Month , to raise public awareness about— (A) the importance of personal financial education in the United States; and (B) the serious consequences that may result from a lack of understanding about personal finances; and (2) calls on the Federal Government, States, localities, schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and the people of the United States to support the goals and ideals of Financial Literacy Month with appropriate programs and activities.