THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY MILNE, BAKER, BEAR, BELFANTI, BENNINGHOFF, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, BRIGGS, BROOKS, BROWN, BURNS, CAUSER, CLYMER, CREIGHTON, CUTLER, DELOZIER, DENLINGER, DiGIROLAMO, ELLIS, EVERETT, FLECK, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HARHART, HELM, HESS, HICKERNELL, JOHNSON, KILLION, LONGIETTI, MAJOR, McILVAINE SMITH, MENSCH, METZGAR, MICOZZIE, MUSTIO, OBERLANDER, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PARKER, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, PYLE, QUINN, RAPP, READSHAW, ROSS, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SEIP, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, SWANGER, TRUE, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WHEATLEY, YOUNGBLOOD, MOUL AND REICHLEY, MAY 26, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MAY 26, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of May 2009 as "Literacy Month" in

Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Literacy is defined as the ability to understand the

complex systems at work in a culture for the benefit of both

personal and societal development; and

WHEREAS, In our society, literacy now extends beyond the

skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening to encompass

broader proficiencies, including visual, media, financial and

information literacy; and

WHEREAS, Great strides in literacy have transpired; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 4 billion people worldwide are literate, but

this number indicates a need for continued improvement and

awareness; and

WHEREAS, Education must be utilized as a tool by which to

begin the quest for literacy at a young age; and

WHEREAS, The pursuit of literacy empowers parents in their

role as a child's first teacher and charges them with preparing

children to enter a formal educational environment to improve

upon previously acquired skills; and

WHEREAS, Educators play a pivotal role in developing and

enhancing literacy skills which aid in human social development;

and

WHEREAS, Striving for literacy does not end with childhood

and affects all aspects of life, including health and welfare,

life skills, career and the basic ability to understand and

process daily events and situations; and

WHEREAS, Literacy has a direct correlation to health, as

persons who are not literate tend to have poor health and high

medical costs; and

WHEREAS, Literacy directly affects a person's ability to

function in the work force, and a literate work force capable of

using the current technology is essential to the national, State

and local economy; and

WHEREAS, Problems associated with illiteracy can be prevented

through education that prepares and molds students to be

literate citizens who can contribute to the community; and

WHEREAS, The essential function of literacy is to make it

possible for an individual to engage as fully as possible with

knowledge and cultural awareness in society and to be a catalyst

for change and improvement of society; and

WHEREAS, Literacy should be valued as a human right that

allows people to exercise the privileges and responsibilities of

citizenship; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the

month of May 2009 as "Literacy Month" in Pennsylvania.