119-sres394

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 394 Agreed to Senate

    (ATS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
S. RES. 394

 Designating September 2025 as ``National Literacy Month''.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 September 16, 2025

 Mr. Reed (for himself, Mr. Cassidy, Mrs. Blackburn, Ms. Blunt 
 Rochester, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Heinrich, Ms. 
 Hirono, Mr. Justice, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mrs. Britt, Mr. King, Mr. 
 Lankford, Mr. Tuberville, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Husted, 
Mr. Wicker, and Ms. Collins) submitted the following resolution; which 
 was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

 Designating September 2025 as ``National Literacy Month''.

Whereas reading is a cornerstone for personal growth, economic opportunity, and 
 a strong society;
Whereas recent assessments, such as the National Assessment of Educational 
 Progress, report unacceptably poor student reading proficiency, 
 highlighting the need for effective literacy instruction;
Whereas the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies 
 estimates that 28 percent or 59,000,000 adults in the United States 
 perform at the lowest proficiency level in literacy;
Whereas educational disparities persist among students in various States and 
 districts, particularly impacting students of color, those from low-
 income backgrounds, and English learners;
Whereas citizens who struggle to achieve reading proficiency are less likely to 
 graduate high school or be employed and are more likely to be 
 incarcerated;
Whereas the interim report by the National Reading Panel found that the cost to 
 taxpayers of adult illiteracy is $224,000,000,000 per year and that 
 United States companies lost nearly $40,000,000,000 annually because of 
 illiteracy;
Whereas reading proficiency is linked to economic mobility and overall life 
 success;
Whereas an interdisciplinary body of research, known as the science of reading, 
 demonstrates the effectiveness of evidence-based reading strategies in 
 improving literacy outcomes;
Whereas access to reading materials and robust content knowledge is essential 
 for literacy success, with disparities affecting millions of children, 
 particularly those from low-income households and communities of color;
Whereas evidence-based reading strategies include reading instruction and 
 interventions based on rigorous scientific research that have 
 demonstrated effectiveness in improving literacy development and skills 
 in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension; 
 and
Whereas the Federal Government currently invests in literacy education through 
 programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (29 
 U.S.C. 3271 et seq.), and the Museum and Library Services Act (20 U.S.C. 
 9101 et seq.): Now, therefore, be it
 Resolved, That the Senate--

    (1) designates September 2025 as ``National Literacy 
 Month''; and

    (2) calls on the Federal Government, States, localities, 
 schools, libraries, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and 
 the people of the United States to observe National Literacy 
 Month with appropriate programs and activities.
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