PolicyBrief
S.RES. 88
119th CongressFeb 21st 2025
A resolution designating March 7, 2025, as "National Speech and Debate Education Day".
SENATE PASSED

Designates March 7, 2025, as "National Speech and Debate Education Day" to recognize the importance of these skills and the educators who provide them. Encourages national celebration and promotion of speech and debate education.

Charles "Chuck" Grassley
R

Charles "Chuck" Grassley

Senator

IA

LEGISLATION

National Speech and Debate Education Day Set for March 7, 2025: Resolution Highlights Value of Communication Skills

This resolution officially designates March 7, 2025, as "National Speech and Debate Education Day." It's all about recognizing how crucial speech and debate skills are for students—think critical thinking, communication, creativity, and collaboration. The resolution also gives a shout-out to teachers and coaches who help students build these skills.

Talking Points

The core of this resolution is recognizing the value of learning to research, construct, and present an argument. It points out that these skills are vital for, well, everything: from personal advocacy to social movements and even shaping public policy. The resolution emphasizes that speech and debate education fosters confidence and the ability to discern and share views, skills that have a lifelong impact.

Real-World Rollout

So, what does this actually do? It encourages schools, businesses, community groups, and pretty much everyone to celebrate and promote speech and debate education. Imagine your local school hosting workshops, or businesses sponsoring debate clubs. For a student, this could mean more opportunities to join a debate team or participate in public speaking events. For a teacher, it could be a chance to get more support and resources for their speech and debate programs.

The Big Picture

This resolution connects to a bigger picture of civic engagement and education. It acknowledges that effective communication is at the heart of, well, everything. By highlighting speech and debate, the resolution underscores the importance of these skills in a functioning democracy. It's about empowering people to express themselves effectively and engage in informed discussions. While it's largely symbolic, setting a specific date can help raise awareness and might even lead to more funding or support for these programs down the line. The resolution directly states its purpose: to affirm the importance of National Speech and Debate Education Day and to encourage nationwide celebration and promotion (Section 2).