SRES 394

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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. <all>