Jefferson Reporter

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 that reading as early as possible to a child helps with early brain development and sets 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.).

Since taking office, Senator Britt has been a strong advocate for every single child across Alabama and the 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 science-of-reading literacy resources for educators.

Recently, Senator Britt had an opportunity to join Senator Cassidy’s roundtable spotlighting innovative leaders driving positive changes in education.

This summer, Senator Britt visited UAB Medicine and Children’s of Alabama for NICU Bookworm Day 2024 to promote early reading. Bookworm Day is an initiative created by UAB and Children’s of Alabama encouraging parents to begin reading to their children as soon as they are born. Senator Britt read books to babies in UAB Women & Infants Center’s Regional Newborn Intensive Care Unit, Continuing Care Nursery, and NICU at Children’s of Alabama Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children.