[GLC] urgent federal budget action

[Nell Eckersley]

Hi all,
Below is a message sent out by Ira Yankwitt earlier today:

Dear Colleagues:
As you may recall from last year, this is the time of year that the US
Senate and House of Representatives pass Budget Resolutions that set the
parameters for the amount of federal funding that the House and Senate
Appropriations Committees can allocate to specific programs like adult
literacy education (WIA Title II). Unlike last year, when Congress was
forced to respond to a Presidential budget proposal that cut 66% from adult
literacy education, this year, the President has proposed level funding.
Building on our success in preventing a sizable cut to our funding last
year, adult literacy advocates across the country are mounting a campaign to
increase federal funding for adult literacy from $565 million to $700
million (a 24% increase). As part of this effort, two actions must be taken
by NOON TODAY.

1) Call your House Member and ask them to sign on to the letter to the Chair
and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Sub-Committee on Labor,
Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies that asks for "at
least level funding" for Adult Education. Below is the letter, along with
the "Dear Colleague" letter from Representatives Castle and Kildee that
explains the letter and tells House members how they can sign on. (To find
your House member's telephone #, go to www.house.gov)

2) Call Senators Schumer and Clinton and ask them to support the
Specter-Harkin amendment to the FY 2007 Senate Budget Resolution. This
amendment would add up to $7 billion to a broad range of health, human
service, and education programs, including adult literacy. Senator Schumer's
number is (202) 224-6542. Senator Clinton's number is (202) 224-4451.

As always, please contact me if you have any questions.
Best,
Ira

*******************
SUPPORT ADULT EDUCATION AND FAMILY LITERACY!


Dear Colleague:

            Attached is a letter to members of the Appropriations Committee
regarding funding for Adult Basic Education and Literacy State Grants.  We
ask that you join us in requesting appropriators to maintain at least level
funding for this important program.

            At a time when we are trying to improve our nation's
competitiveness, these funds are more important than ever as an essential
lifeline to individuals with low levels of literacy and those in need of
English as a Second Language (ESL) services.  Currently, the demand for
these programs far exceeds the availability of services.  Enrollment in
Adult ESL has increased 105% over the last 10 years, but a lack of funding
has still prevented access for many who would like to learn the English
language.  Access to these services is essential in helping immigrants
successfully participate and contribute to our society.

Today's high schools produce two percent of our workforce each year, too few
to fill the demand for a highly trained workforce and meet the shortage of
skilled workers we face as the baby boomers retire.  Technological advances
have made it extremely difficult for individuals with low levels of literacy
and those who lack a high school diploma or GED to get and keep a job, and
it is becoming more common to see many of these jobs outsourced to workers
overseas.  Literacy skills are essential to our economy, and necessary to
keep our country strong and our citizens well educated and working.

            Please join us in sending the attached letter to the
Appropriations Committee.  If you wish to co-sign, please contact Toyin Alli
of the Education and Workforce Committee staff at Toyin.Alli at mail.house.gov
or at 5-5700 by Thursday, March 16th at noon.

Sincerely,


MIKE CASTLE                                                            DALE
KILDEE
Chair
Senior Democrat
Subcommittee on Education Reform                    Subcommittee on 21st
Century Competitiveness
Committee on Education and the Workforce     Committee on Education and the
Workforce




 The Honorable Ralph Regula                                   The Honorable
David R. Obey
Chairman
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Labor,
Subcommittee on Labor,
Health and Human Services, and                             Health and Human
Services, and
Education
Education
Committee on Appropriations                                  Committee on
Appropriations



*****************************
Dear Chairman Regula and Ranking Member Obey:

            We are writing to urge you provide at least level funding for
Adult Basic Education and Literacy State Grants as included in the Adult
Education and Family Literacy Act.

            More than 40 million adults have basic skills needs or limited
proficiency in English that interfere with their ability to participate
fully in work, family and community activities.  Current funding levels
reach only 2.8 million of these adults each year, and thousands more are on
waiting lists.  More than 77 percent of community-based literacy programs
currently report waiting lists.

            Adult education and literacy programs play a key role in the
success of other federal programs, including job training and welfare
reform.  They also play an important role in ensuring the success of No
Child Left Behind by giving parents the skills they need to support their
children's education. Almost 50 percent of the adult education participants
are enrolled in English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, and waiting
lists are so long that many immigrants literally must wait years for an
opportunity to enroll in instruction and proceed toward full citizenship.
In addition, adult education helps individuals gain the skills and
credentials to pursue postsecondary education-a pathway that leads out of
unemployment and low-wage jobs and on to economic independence.

Adult education and literacy programs help ensure that businesses are able
to meet their workforce needs. With current workers retiring and no net
growth in the native-born workforce predicted over the next two decades, we
must help immigrants adapt.  And with the majority of our 2020 workforce
already out of the K-12 system, we can't afford to waste any potential
workers who are building their skills through adult education and literacy
programs.

            Lastly, these federal dollars leverage an important investment
at the states and local level, with states and localities currently
providing $3.00 for every dollar contributed by the Federal government.
Please continue this vital investment.

            Thank you for your consideration of our request.

                                                            Sincerely,