Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the goal of education in schools across America shall be that virtually every student in the United States achieves grade-level reading proficiency, providing them with the foundation to develop the skills and knowledge needed for success in school, work, and life.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 163 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 163

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the goal of 
   education in schools across America shall be that virtually every 
student in the United States achieves grade-level reading proficiency, 
providing them with the foundation to develop the skills and knowledge 
             needed for success in school, work, and life.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 25, 2025

 Mr. Huizenga (for himself, Mr. Moolenaar, Mr. Thanedar, Mrs. Dingell, 
    Ms. McDonald Rivet, Ms. Scholten, and Mr. James) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education 
                             and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the goal of 
   education in schools across America shall be that virtually every 
student in the United States achieves grade-level reading proficiency, 
providing them with the foundation to develop the skills and knowledge 
             needed for success in school, work, and life.

Whereas literacy is an essential skill for success in the United States;
Whereas illiteracy continues to challenge thousands of students annually across 
        many grade levels;
Whereas illiteracy has been a silent epidemic that has not been addressed in the 
        United States for decades and now finds the Nation at a crisis level;
Whereas a literacy gap nationwide, measuring 8th-grade students who are reading 
        below proficiency, exists at well over 50 percent;
Whereas children who struggle to read become adults who struggle in society, 
        leading to a cycle of poverty;
Whereas literacy transforms the lives of students and creates strong 
        communities;
Whereas a literacy curriculum with a structured literacy approach that includes 
        multisensory, phonics, and decoding components is foundational to 
        reading skills;
Whereas literacy programs that include an individual diagnostic assessment 
        overseen by a certified teacher are best set to improve outcomes;
Whereas research shows students who are tutored 1-on-1, 5 days a week achieve 
        grade-level movement in reading;
Whereas research shows individuals who can read at least at a high school level 
        are more likely to be hired in the workforce;
Whereas research shows individuals who can read at least at a high school level 
        are less likely to be incarcerated;
Whereas research shows Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps students who are 
        reading at a high school level or better are more likely to be accepted 
        into the military; and
Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated learning loss among elementary school 
        and secondary school students: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the goal of education in schools across 
        America shall be that virtually every student in the United 
        States achieves grade-level reading proficiency, providing them 
        with the foundation to develop the skills and knowledge needed 
        for success in school, work, and life;
            (2) encourages the development and use of literacy programs 
        that include 1-on-1 tutoring for each student diagnosed with a 
        literacy gap of 1 year or more, 5 days per week until the 
        student is reading at grade level;
            (3) encourages State and local governments, including 
        educational agencies, to collaborate with private organizations 
        offering proven literacy programs to identify and implement 
        effective solutions to address illiteracy; and
            (4) encourages State and local governments, including 
        educational agencies, to collaborate with private organizations 
        that offer proven literacy programs to create adult literacy 
        initiatives aimed at helping adults with reading skills below 
        an eighth-grade level.
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