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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille |
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and the release of the Louis Braille bicentennial silver dollar by |
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the U.S. Mint are being celebrated on March 26, 2009, as National |
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Braille Readers Are Leaders Day; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in 1809, Louis Braille invented the reading and |
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writing code for the blind that bears his name; it provides people |
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who are blind with the power of knowledge, expanding their |
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opportunities and equipping them with tools to be productive and |
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creative contributors to society; and |
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WHEREAS, Braille is used to represent the alphabets of most |
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written languages as well as scientific, mathematical, and musical |
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notation; despite recent technological innovations that have |
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improved access to information, Braille remains the most efficient, |
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versatile, and universal method of reading and writing for people |
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who are blind; and |
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WHEREAS, Unfortunately, Braille literacy in the United |
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States has declined in recent years, and only 10 percent of blind |
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children are learning to read and write in Braille; this figure is |
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especially alarming because 70 percent of blind people are |
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unemployed, while 85 percent of those who are employed use Braille; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Recognizing the importance of Braille literacy, the |
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U.S. Congress in 2006 authorized the striking of a U.S. silver |
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dollar to commemorate the bicentennial of Louis Braille's birth; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, In conjunction with this event, the National |
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Federation of the Blind has launched the national Braille Readers |
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Are Leaders campaign; funded by a portion of the sales of the |
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Braille coin, the campaign strives to promote awareness of Braille |
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and increase Braille instruction and the availability of Braille |
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reading materials; and |
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WHEREAS, Literacy in Braille brings expanded opportunities, |
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power, and enjoyment into the lives of people who are blind, and it |
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is most fitting to encourage efforts to increase Braille literacy; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 26, 2009, as National Braille |
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Readers Are Leaders Day and commemorate the release of the Louis |
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Braille bicentennial silver dollar. |
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Naishtat |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 960 was adopted by the House on March |
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26, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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