Paul Coverdell: “America has a reading deficit! According to the National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS), 41 million adults are unable to…”

“America has a reading deficit! According to the National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS), 41 million adults are unable to perform even the simplest literacy tasks. The most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) conducted in 1998 continues to show that almost 70 percent of 4th grade students cannot read at a proficient level. Even worse, 40 percent of those 4th graders could not read at even a basic level for their grade. In short, Mr. President, unless we treat this situation as the national emergency that it is--and soon--the next decade will see an astonishing 70 percent of our 4th grade students joining the ranks of those 41 million American adults who are unable to perform simple literacy tasks. The ability to read the English language with fluency and comprehension is essential if individuals, old and young, are to reach their full potential in any field of endeavor. As the saying goes, 'reading is fundamental.' And the statistics bear that out as well. Workers who lack a high school diploma earn a mean monthly income of $452, compared to $1,829 for those with a bachelor's degree. Forty three percent of people with the lowest literacy skills live in poverty, 17 percent receive food stamps, and 70 percent have no job or a part-time job. And make no mistake that the nation itself and not just individuals will suffer. If our children are not taught to read, who will man our high tech defenses or fill the high tech jobs in America's future?”