WHEREAS, established by the National Speech & Debate Association, in conjunction with national and local partners, National Speech and Debate Education Day serves to promote better instruction in speech and debate across all grade levels and to highlight the pivotal roles these abilities play in personal advocacy, social movements, and public policy making; and

WHEREAS, speech and debate education helps students develop important skills in communication, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration through the practice of public speaking; participants learn not only to analyze and express complex ideas effectively but also to listen, concur, question, or dissent with reason and compassion; and

WHEREAS, across the country, countless educators devote in-school, after-school, and weekend time to supporting their students in speech and debate practices and competitions, and the example of hard work and dedication they set has a lasting, positive impact on their pupils; and

WHEREAS, the skills learned through speech and debate serve students well throughout their lives, and this occasion presents a welcome opportunity to recognize such instruction as an essential component of a well-rounded curriculum; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly designate March 3, in 2018 and in each succeeding year, as National Speech and Debate Education Day; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit a copy of this resolution to the National Speech & Debate Association so that members of the organization may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter; and, be it

RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates post the designation of this day on the General Assembly's website.