Rep. Beatty Introduces Resolution to Support Goals of Financial Literacy Month

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, introduced a resolution on April 13, 2023. The text of the resolution was released on April 30.

H. Res. 291. A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of "Financial Literacy Month"; to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

The resolution is cosponsored by Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif.

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Supporting the goals and ideals of "Financial Literacy Month".

Whereas, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (referred hereinafter as the "FDIC"), at least 18.6 percent of households in the United States, or nearly 24,600,000 households, are unbanked or underbanked and therefore have not had an opportunity to access savings, lending, and other basic financial services;

Whereas, according to the 2021 Consumer Financial Literacy and Preparedness Survey final report of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling--

(1) only 44 percent of adults in the United States have a budget;

(2) 75 percent of adults in the United States acknowledged that they could benefit from additional advice and answers to everyday financial questions from a professional;

(3) 1 in 4 adults in the United States admitted they do not pay all their bills on time; and

(4) 47 percent of the general population currently holds credit card debt, and almost 2 in 5 carry some amount of credit card debt month to month, with the mean amount of self-reported debt equaling $1,847;

Whereas the Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2021 by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve found that 32 percent of adults could not cover a $400 emergency expense without borrowing or selling something of value;

Whereas, according to the Quarterly Report on Household on Credit Debt for the fourth quarter of 2022 released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Center for Microeconomic Data, outstanding household debt in the United States was $16.9 trillion;

Whereas, according to the 2022 Survey of the States: Economic and Personal Finance Education in Our Nation's Schools, a biennial report by the Council for Economic Education--

(1) only 25 States require students to take an economics course as a high school graduation requirement; and

(2) only 23 States require students to take a personal finance course as a high school graduation requirement, either independently or as part of an economics course;

Whereas, according to the Fidelity Investments 2022 Teens and Money Study surveying young people ages 13 to 17, only 49 percent of students in the United States have opened a bank account;

Whereas expanding access to the safe, mainstream financial system will provide individuals with less expensive and more secure options for managing finances and building wealth;

Whereas quality personal financial education is essential to ensure that individuals are prepared--

(1) to manage money, credit, and debt; and

(2) to become responsible workers, heads of household, investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and citizens;

Whereas increased financial literacy empowers individuals to make wise financial decisions and reduces the confusion caused by an increasingly complex economy;

Whereas a greater understanding of, and familiarity with, financial markets and institutions will lead to increased economic activity and growth; and

Whereas, in 2003, Congress--

(1) determined that coordinating Federal financial literacy efforts and formulating a national strategy is important; and

(2) in light of that determination, passed the Financial Literacy and Education Improvement Act (20 U.S.C. 9701 et seq.), establishing the Financial Literacy and Education Commission: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) supports the goals and ideals of "Financial Literacy Month" to raise public awareness about--

(A) the importance of personal financial education in the United States; and

(B) the serious consequences that may result from a lack of understanding about personal finances; and

(2) calls on the Federal Government, States, localities, schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and the people of the United States to observe Financial Literacy Month with appropriate programs and activities.

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