U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Bill Cassidy, Jack Reed, Colleagues Lead Resolution to Recognize September as National Literacy Month
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 13, 2024 – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) joined Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) in introducing a bipartisan resolution to designate September 2024 as National Literacy Month. The resolution passed the Senate by unanimous consent this week.
Reading proficiency by third grade is one of the most important predictors of whether a student will graduate high school and succeed in a career, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Studies have also indicated reading as early as possible to a child helps with early brain development and in setting the framework for learning.
“Literacy is foundational for success and provides children with the tools needed to pursue their American Dream. Reading is especially important at an early age for babies, toddlers, and young children.” said Senator Britt. “I am proud to support this resolution and will continue to work on a bipartisan basis to improve child literacy rates so every Alabamian has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
Additional cosponsors of the resolution are Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Cornyn (R-Tex.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N. Mex.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Angus King (I-Maine), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).
Full text of the resolution can be found here.
Background:
Since taking office, Senator Britt has been a strong advocate for every single child across Alabama and our nation to have the opportunity to unlock the American Dream.
Two-thirds of America’s fourth and eighth graders lack proficiency in reading. Alabama has been a leader in recent years attempting to address some of these issues at the state level. In the wake of the Alabama Literacy Act, which was fully implemented in the 2023-2024 school year, the number of third graders in Alabama reading below the recommended level dropped from 17% to 9%. Alabama also continues to be one of the leading states in implementing the science of reading literacy resources for educators.
Recently, Senator Britt had the opportunity to join Senator Cassidy’s (R-La.) roundtable to spotlight innovative leaders driving positive changes to the status quo in education.
This summer, Senator Britt visited the University of Birmingham (UAB) Medicine and Children’s of Alabama for the 2024 NICU Bookwork Day to promote early reading. Bookworm Day Bookworm Day is an initiative created by UAB and Children’s of Alabama to encourage parents to begin reading to their children as soon as they are born. Senator Britt had the opportunity to read to babies in UAB Women & Infants Center’s Regional Newborn Intensive Care Unit (RNICU), Continuing Care Nursery (CCN), and the NICU at Children’s of Alabama Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children.
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