Designating July 2, 1992, as "National Literacy Day".
PL 102-315 (H.J.Res.499), enacted 07/02/1992

106 STAT. 286 
PUBLIC LAW 102-315—JULY 2, 1992 
Public Law 102-315 
102d Congress 
Joint Resolution 
July 2, 1992 
Designating July 2, 1992, as "National Literacy Day". 
[H.J. Res. 499] 
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Whereas literacy is a necessary tool for survival in our society; 
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 hiindred thousand refugees, are added to the pool of 
illiterates annuEdly; 
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 luiable to perform at the standard necessary for 
available emplojmaent and the money allocated to child welfare 
and unemployment compensation; 
Whereas the percentage of ilUterates 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 milhon 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 fimctionally 
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 ilUteracy continues because the children 
of illiterate parents are often illiterate themselves because of 
the lack of support they receive from their home environment; 
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 imderstand the severity of the problem and its detrimental 
PUBLIC LAW 102-315—JULY 2, 1992 
106 STAT. 287 
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 milUons 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, 
1992, is 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. 
Approved July 2, 1992. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.J. Res. 499 (S.J. Res. 301): 
CONGRESSIONAL RECX)RD, Vol. 138 (1992): 
June 25, considered and passed House. 
June 26, S.J. Res. 301 considered and passed Senate. 
June 30, H.J. Res. 499 considered and passed Senate.