Issue: As soon as this Thursday, March 14, the House will vote on H.R. 803 as the next step in reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).  Created in 1998 through a bipartisan process, WIA is the legislation which provides for adult education programs (Title II).

H.R. 803 would threaten the ability of states and communities to educate low-skilled adults and English language learners and prepare them for self-sufficiency by allowing states to consolidate adult education funding together with a newly-created Workforce Investment Fund. This new fund…

If so, then please call his or her office today, requesting your U.S. Representative sign on as a co-sponsor.

Deadline to sign as a cosponsor: July 31, 2012

Instructions:

1. Call your U.S. Representative’s office. Ask to speak to the legislative staff who covers

…

Issue:

If this bill were to become law, it would allow states to consolidate adult education funding together with a newly-created fund that provides for a broad set of general workforce activities, including job seeking services, without requiring states to…

Issue: On March 29th, Members of the House Education and the Workforce Committee introduced The Workforce Investment Improvement Act of 2012 (HR 4297). As early as next week, the full Committee may meet to markup the bill as the next step in reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).

Created in 1998 through a bipartisan process, WIA—the legislation which provides for adult education programs—has not been updated since then. Now, House Republicans are moving their legislation forward to markup.

The National Coalition for Literacy has several concerns…

DEADLINE: Noon, March 28, 2012

Dear Adult Education & Literacy Advocate,

Issue: Just like in the House, Senators have been asked to submit their funding priorities for FY 2013 to the Chair of the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee. Senator Webb wants to make sure that adult education is a priority for every Senator. He is sponsoring a letter that all Senators can sign, making it easier for Senators to prioritize adult education funding for FY2013. Since the letter does not have a Republican co-sponsor, it will be especially important for constituents of Republican…

Thank you for joining us in the action alert asking U.S. Representatives to sign the Roe-Hinojosa Dear Colleague Letter in support of adult education funding! Your efforts resulted in 33 U.S. Representatives signing the letter. [Copy of Letter] Well done! Thank you to NCL Member Organizations and the National Council of State Directors of Adult Education for activating their networks.

Next Steps:

—If your U.S. Representative…

UPDATED: 3-15-12

House Adult Literacy Caucus Co-chairs Congressman Phil Roe (R-TN) and Congressman Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX) have issued a bipartisan Dear Colleague Letter in support of federal funding for adult education for FY2013. We need everyone to take a few minutes today to call your U.S. Representative’s office and ask him or her to sign the letter.

Congressman Rehberg, Chair of the Labor HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee, has asked Members of the House of Representatives to submit their funding priorities for FY2013. We would like…

By Jackie Taylor and Washington Partners

Advocacy

The following alerts are live; act now on them:

• Save Even Start
• Congressional Visit Campaign

If the 2-week stop-gap continuing resolution (CR) is passed without changes to Even Start, then Even Start will be eliminated. In addition to calling your legislators to save Even Start, it is critical that we get all Members of Congress to visit adult education and family literacy programs while they are back home. Congress has scheduled Constituent Work Weeks each month for legislators to travel back…

Friends and colleagues,

We are up against a tough Congress that has strong momentum for cutting spending. Additionally, NCL heard that WIA reauthorization is likely to be one of the first items to be considered in the new Congress. Does your Member of Congress have the most recent information on adult education in your community? It’s time to update the 112^th Congress about the importance of adult education before they are faced with difficult decisions that will impact it.

Action Request:

Who: Program

…

The House and Senate are finalizing a short term continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through March 4, 2011. A more conservative 112^th Congress will make the funding decisions to finish out the FY11 program year. Many of these Members were elected on promises of slashing spending. This leaves adult education and family literacy funding in a vulnerable and uncertain state. In particular, Even Start (ES) historically has been targeted, among other small education programs, for cuts.

You can take the following steps now to elevate the…