07 LC 96
2056
House
Resolution 55
By:
Representatives Walker of the
107th
and May of the
111th
A
RESOLUTION
Expressing
support for local communities to boost family literacy and generate projects
that offer to support life-long learning from infancy; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
studies show that reading to babies, toddlers, and young children yields greater
financial rewards for society than building a new football stadium;
and
WHEREAS,
local initiatives such as Rock-A-Bye Baby Reader by Carol Olsen and Cheryl
Schneider as well as A Book for Baby by Dr. G.J.H. Bienstock encourage family
literacy by standing by the conviction that no infant should be denied the gift
of reading, regardless of the child's cultural or economic background;
and
WHEREAS,
the Georgia Legislature supports the initiative to greet each newborn Georgian
with the gift of a "baby's first book" and encourages the Governor and the First
Lady to send an accompanying written message welcoming the baby to the world of
reading and expressing confidence in the parents as key educators;
and
WHEREAS,
this proposed gift serves as a necessary response to an alarming rise of
literacy deficiency, as it is imperative to the future of Georgia that more
young people grow up with both the ability as well as the desire to read;
and
WHEREAS,
Georgia's gift of reading gives a phenomenal boost for local community efforts
to encourage family literacy and therefore fortifies Georgia's economic future
and emerging role as global leader.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of
this body hereby express their support for the goal of presenting the gift of
reading to all babies born in Georgia birthing hospitals.