ProLiteracy Supports Funding Request

April 4, 2008
Syracuse, NY

The following letter was sent by ProLiteracy President David C. Harvey (see list of recipients below)

Dear ______________:

I am writing to request your support for an increase in appropriations for the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act of 1998 (Title II of the Workforce Investment Act). Since FY '04, WIA has been reduced in funding by over $20 million, despite the enormous increase in demand for instruction in basic reading, writing, math and English-as-a-second-language programs throughout the United States.

ProLiteracy supports the National Coalition for Literacy's request of $750 million for FY '09, an increase of $196 million over the Administration's request of $554 million. This increase would enable the estimated 100,000 adults currently on local literacy program waiting lists to receive instruction and expand the programs reach to an additional 150,000 adult learners. Knowing that Congress faces an extraordinarily difficult budget year, at a minimum we support reinstating the $9.8 million in funding that was cut last year and an additional $6.5 million that would allow local programs to keep up with the cost of inflation and the current number of students served.

WIA is the nation’s largest federal program that supports adult literacy programs throughout the United States. My organization, ProLiteracy Worldwide, represents 1,200 adult basic education and literacy programs and the adult learners to whom they teach basic reading, writing, math, and English as a second language. Two-thirds of these programs receive a significant part of their funding from WIA, Title II. Taking into account all federal, state, local, and philanthropic resources currently available, the adult basic education and literacy system can serve just three million adult literacy students, this despite the fact that the recent National Assessment of Adult Literacy survey estimated that 30 million adults in the U.S. read so poorly they cannot complete a job application, understand a simple newspaper story, or fill out a bank deposit slip.

Adults without literacy skills are unable to compete in our increasingly technological and information-driven workforce and are less likely to be able to help their children be successful in school. These individuals need your help if they are to achieve their goals of better jobs, better health, and better-educated children.

We look forward to working with you and your staff to secure a desperately needed funding increase for Title II of WIA. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

David C. Harvey
President and CEO
ProLiteracy Worldwide

Recipients:
Appropriations Committee
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education

Senator Tom Harkin, Chairman (IA)
Senator Daniel Inouye (HI)
Senator Herb Kohl (WI)
Senator Patty Murray (WA)
Senator Mary Landrieu (LA)
Senator Richard Durbin (IL)
Senator Jack Reed (RI)
Senator Frank Lautenberg (NJ)
Senator Arlen Spector, Ranking Member (PA)
Senator Thad Cochran (MS)
Senator Judd Gregg (NH)
Senator Larry Craig (ID)
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX)
Senator Ted Stevens (AK)
Senator Richard Shelby (AL)

The Honorable Dave Obey, Chairman (WI)
The Honorable Nita M. Lowey (NY)
The Honorable Rosa L. DeLauro (CT)
The Honorable Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (IL)
The Honorable Patrick J. Kennedy (RI)
The Honorable Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA)
The Honorable Barbara Lee (CA)
The Honorable Tom Udall (NM)
The Honorable Michael Honda (CA)
The Honorable Betty McCollum (MN)
The Honorable Tim Ryan (OH)
The Honorable James T. Walsh, Ranking Member (NY)
The Honorable Ralaph Regula (OH)
The Honorable John E. Peterson (PA)
The Honorable Dave Weldon (FL)
The Honorable Michael K. Simpson (ID)
The Honorable Dennis R. Rehberg (MT)
The Honorable Jerry Lewis, Ex Officio (CA)