PRINTER'S NO. 1146
No. 177 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY MILNE, ARGALL, BAKER, BELFANTI, BENNINGHOFF,
BEYER, BIANCUCCI, BISHOP, BOYD, CALTAGIRONE, CAPPELLI,
CAUSER, CIVERA, CLYMER, COHEN, COX, CREIGHTON, CURRY, CUTLER,
DeWEESE, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, EVERETT, FABRIZIO, FAIRCHILD,
FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GALLOWAY, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS,
GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HENNESSEY, HERSHEY,
HESS, HICKERNELL, JAMES, M. KELLER, KILLION, KIRKLAND, KULA,
MAJOR, MANDERINO, MANN, MANTZ, MARKOSEK, MARSICO, McGEEHAN,
McILHATTAN, MILLARD, MOYER, MUNDY, MURT, MUSTIO, MYERS,
PALLONE, PAYNE, PETRI, PETRONE, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, QUIGLEY,
QUINN, RAMALEY, RAPP, RAYMOND, READSHAW, REED, REICHLEY,
ROSS, RUBLEY, SAINATO, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER,
McILVAINE SMITH, K. SMITH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, STERN, THOMAS,
TRUE, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WALKO, WHEATLEY, WILLIAMS,
WOJNAROSKI, YOUNGBLOOD AND SIPTROTH, APRIL 2, 2007
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 2, 2007
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the month of May 2007 as "Literacy Month" in
2 Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Literacy is defined as the ability to understand the
4 complex systems at work in a culture for the benefit of both
5 personal and societal development; and
6 WHEREAS, In our society, literacy now extends beyond the
7 skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening to encompass
8 broader proficiencies, including visual, media, financial and
9 information literacy; and
10 WHEREAS, Great strides in literacy have transpired; and
11 WHEREAS, Nearly 4 billion people worldwide are literate, but
1 this number indicates a need for continued improvement and
2 awareness; and
3 WHEREAS, Education must be utilized as a tool by which to
4 begin the quest for literacy at a young age; and
5 WHEREAS, The pursuit of literacy empowers parents in their
6 role as a child's first teacher and charges them with preparing
7 children to enter a formal educational environment to improve
8 upon previously acquired skills; and
9 WHEREAS, Educators play a pivotal role in developing and
10 enhancing literacy skills which aid in human social development;
11 and
12 WHEREAS, Striving for literacy does not end with childhood
13 and affects all aspects of life, including health and welfare,
14 career and the work force, life skills and the basic ability to
15 understand and process daily events and situations; and
16 WHEREAS, Literacy has a direct correlation to health, as
17 persons who are not literate--persons who cannot read or write
18 at a proficient level--tend to have poor health and high medical
19 costs; and
20 WHEREAS, Literacy directly affects a person's ability to
21 function in the work force, and a literate work force capable of
22 using the current technology is essential to the national, State
23 and local economy; and
24 WHEREAS, Problems associated with illiteracy can be prevented
25 through education which prepares and molds students to be
26 literate citizens who can contribute to the community; and
27 WHEREAS, The essential function of literacy is to make it
28 possible for individuals to engage as fully as possible, with
29 knowledge and cultural awareness, in society and to be a
30 catalyst for change and improvement of society; and
20070H0177R1146 - 2 -
1 WHEREAS, Literacy should be valued as a human right that
2 allows people to exercise the privileges and responsibilities of
3 citizenship; therefore be it
4 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
5 month of May 2007 as "Literacy Month" in Pennsylvania.
B22L82JLW/20070H0177R1146 - 3 -