ProLiteracy Calls for Override of Veto on Money for Adult Literacy, Even Start

“This is an investment in the country,” ProLiteracy President David C. Harvey states

Syracuse, NY
November 15, 2007

The head of the world’s largest organization of adult basic education and adult literacy programs today called on the House and the Senate to override President Bush’s veto of the $150.7 billion funding bill for the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Department. The bill includes the first increase in spending for adult basic education in six years.

In a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, ProLiteracy Worldwide President and CEO David C. Harvey stated that “there are approximately 100,000 individuals on waiting lists for adult basic education and literacy instruction, including many immigrants anxious to learn the language of their new home country.” The additional $12.5 million included in the bill would mean an additional 15,000 students would be able to receive instruction. Harvey added that Even Start helps the nation’s “poorest and most at-risk families improve their literacy skills.” ProLiteracy supported an increase of $25 million for adult education and literacy programs coming out of the House. The House and Senate compromised on half that amount in committee and both sides passed the appropriations bill. President Bush followed through on a promise to veto spending bills that were not within his requested spending levels. It is not known whether Democrats have the two-thirds majority needed to override the veto when the Labor-HHS-Education bill returns to Congress for action. If not, the bill will need to be reworked.

“Adult learners looking to find a job or get a better job, help their children become good readers, and contribute to their communities need Congress to stand by its commitment by overriding this veto,“ Harvey said. “It’s not an expense, it’s an investment in the present and future well-being of the entire country.”

A national survey of the reading, writing, and math skills of people over age 16 in the U.S. showed that 30 million people —14 percent of the country’s adult population— do not read well enough to understand a simple newspaper story, read a menu in a restaurant, or use a TV guide to find a program’s airdate. Federal funding, however, has remained stagnant since 2001; combined public and private spending funds services for less than 10 percent of all adults who need them.

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November 15, 2007

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of The House
U. S. House of Representatives
Washington, D. C. 20515

Dear Speaker Pelosi:

I am writing to encourage you to override the President’s veto of the Labor/Health and Human Services/Education appropriations bill for fiscal 2008.

ProLiteracy Worldwide is the largest organization of adult literacy programs in the world. We represent 1,200 local adult literacy programs in the US, and 125 partner programs in 65 developing countries.

The US Department of Education estimates that there are more than 30 million adults aged 16 and older in this country who do not have sufficient literacy skills to take care of their families, help their children to become educated, obtain and keep good jobs, and participate in the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Across the nation, there are approximately 100,000 individuals on waiting lists for adult basic education and literacy instruction, including many immigrants anxious to learn the language of their new home country. The legislation vetoed by the President would have included an additional $12.5 million for adult education programs, allowing more adults to access literacy instruction.

In addition, the bill included a $63 million appropriation for Even Start, a program that helps the nation’s poorest and most at-risk families to improve their literacy skills. This unique program has helped break the intergenerational cycle of illiteracy that prevents these families from accessing the American dream.

We encourage you and your colleagues in the House to override the veto of this important legislation and fund the programs that help adults and families to improve their lives through literacy.

Sincerely,

David C. Harvey
President & CEO