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 -