Empathy List Archives

DK

Deborah Kennedy

Mon, Mar 9, 2020 6:45 PM

Dear Colleagues,

I'm writing with an update to the appropriations summary that I provided on last week's policy call. Letters requesting an appropriation of $692 million for WIOA Title II (Adult Education and Family Literacy) are now circulating in both the House and the Senate. This is an increase of approximately $14 million over the authorized amount for FY 2020. It reflects the fact that the authorized amounts for WIOA Title II also increased by about $14 million each year over the life of the legislation.

In the Senate, the letter's co-leads are Senator Todd Young (R-IN) and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI). As of today, co-signers are Senators King (I-ME), Duckworth (D-IL), Blumenthal (D-CT), Murphy (D-CT), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Stabenow (D-MI), Shaheen (D-NH), Markey (D-MA), and Baldwin (D-WI). Please contact your Senators to encourage them to sign on. If your Senator is listed above, send a thank-you note! The deadline for Senators to sign on is March 20.
In the House, the co-leads are Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ03) and Representative John Yarmuth (D-KY03). As of today, Reps. Danny K. Davis (D-IL07), Jahana Hayes (D-CT05), and Thomas Suozzi (D-NY03) have signed on. Please contact your Representatives to encourage them to sign on (find your Representative at https://www.house.gov/representatives#name-s). The deadline for Representatives to sign on is March 13.

The text of the House letter, with the cover Dear Colleague letter, is appended below for your reference, and the Senate version is attached. The letters are substantially the same. The main difference is that the House version calls out English language learners specifically.

Please feel free to forward this message and the letters to your contacts so that Members of Congress hear from as many constituents as possible. Thank you!

Deborah

Deborah Kennedy

Senior Consultant / Owner, Key Words

President, National Coalition for Literacy

http://www.key-words.us

http://www.national-coalition-literacy.org

Support Funding for Adult Education Programs

Sending Office: Honorable John A. Yarmuth
Sent By:

Request for Signature(s)

Dear Colleague:

Please join us in sending the attached letter to the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee
in support of $692 million for the Adult Education State Grant Program.

This program provides vital investments in adult education initiatives that help improve literacy levels for working adults. As our economy continues to change, individuals need to be
equipped with the necessary literacy, numeracy, and digital skills to grow and succeed in the modern workplace. Through the Adult Education State Grant Program, individuals will have expanded access to the critical training and support services that better
prepare them for future career opportunities.

I hope you will join me in this effort to provide hard working adults with important skills to succeed in the workplace. To add your name to this letter, please contact Walker Robinson
in my office at mailto:Walker.Robinson@mail.house.gov or Norma Salazar in Rep. Grijalva’s office at mailto:Norma.Salazar@mail.house.gov.

Sincerely,

John Yarmuth Raúl M. Grijalva

Member of Congress Member of Congress

Dear Chairwoman DeLauro and Ranking Member Cole:

Thank you for your support for the Adult Education State Grant Program in FY 2020. The increased funding will strengthen adult education programs and put more adults on a pathway to greater
career opportunities and enhanced economic security. As you consider the Fiscal Year 2021 Appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, we urge you to continue to expand opportunities for all adult learners, including
adult English language learners, by providing $692 million for the Adult Education State Grant Program.

The need to strengthen the skills base of working adults continues to grow. Increasingly, middle-skill and sustainable wage jobs require education beyond high school. Yet, according to
U.S. Census data, more than 22 million working age adults have less than a high school diploma. Additionally, more than 40 million adults in the U.S. have low skills, with nearly one in six having low literacy skills and one in three having low numeracy skills.
These adults are less likely to be able to transition to higher-level jobs and more likely to be unemployed.

Adult education can make a transformative difference for these Americans -- economically and socially. Research shows that adult participants in basic skills programs experience mean
income gains of 53 percent over ten years, compared with an income drop of two percent for nonparticipants. The federal and state tax dollars realized through these income gains represent a significant return on investment for the average annual expenditure
of $1,021 per adult learner. Adult learners who participate in basic skills instruction for 100 hours or more demonstrate a substantial increase in their literacy skills. They are also significantly more likely to achieve a high school credential, improve
their skills after program completion, and enter postsecondary education and receive credits, as well as vote in national elections.

Through adult education programs, participants develop the English language, literacy, numeracy, and digital skills they need to succeed and thrive in the workplace and the community.
Unfortunately, existing programs currently serve fewer than ten percent of those in need, and many have long waiting lists. These programs also have limited ability to provide supportive services -- such as job counseling, child care, and transportation --
that enable working class adults to persist in pursuing their educational goals. To enable these programs to continue strengthening American families and our nation’s economic outlook through their vital work, we urge you to support increasing funding for
the Adult Education State Grant program to $692 million for Fiscal Year 2021.

Thank you for your consideration of this important request.

Dear Colleagues, I'm writing with an update to the appropriations summary that I provided on last week's policy call. Letters requesting an appropriation of $692 million for WIOA Title II (Adult Education and Family Literacy) are now circulating in both the House and the Senate. This is an increase of approximately $14 million over the authorized amount for FY 2020. It reflects the fact that the authorized amounts for WIOA Title II also increased by about $14 million each year over the life of the legislation. - In the Senate, the letter's co-leads are Senator Todd Young (R-IN) and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI). As of today, co-signers are Senators King (I-ME), Duckworth (D-IL), Blumenthal (D-CT), Murphy (D-CT), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Stabenow (D-MI), Shaheen (D-NH), Markey (D-MA), and Baldwin (D-WI). Please contact your Senators to encourage them to sign on. If your Senator is listed above, send a thank-you note! The deadline for Senators to sign on is March 20. - In the House, the co-leads are Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ03) and Representative John Yarmuth (D-KY03). As of today, Reps. Danny K. Davis (D-IL07), Jahana Hayes (D-CT05), and Thomas Suozzi (D-NY03) have signed on. Please contact your Representatives to encourage them to sign on (find your Representative at https://www.house.gov/representatives#name-s). The deadline for Representatives to sign on is March 13. The text of the House letter, with the cover Dear Colleague letter, is appended below for your reference, and the Senate version is attached. The letters are substantially the same. The main difference is that the House version calls out English language learners specifically. Please feel free to forward this message and the letters to your contacts so that Members of Congress hear from as many constituents as possible. Thank you! Deborah Deborah Kennedy Senior Consultant / Owner, Key Words President, National Coalition for Literacy http://www.key-words.us http://www.national-coalition-literacy.org Support Funding for Adult Education Programs Sending Office: Honorable John A. Yarmuth Sent By: Request for Signature(s) Dear Colleague: Please join us in sending the attached letter to the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee in support of $692 million for the Adult Education State Grant Program. This program provides vital investments in adult education initiatives that help improve literacy levels for working adults. As our economy continues to change, individuals need to be equipped with the necessary literacy, numeracy, and digital skills to grow and succeed in the modern workplace. Through the Adult Education State Grant Program, individuals will have expanded access to the critical training and support services that better prepare them for future career opportunities. I hope you will join me in this effort to provide hard working adults with important skills to succeed in the workplace. To add your name to this letter, please contact Walker Robinson in my office at mailto:Walker.Robinson@mail.house.gov or Norma Salazar in Rep. Grijalva’s office at mailto:Norma.Salazar@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, John Yarmuth Raúl M. Grijalva Member of Congress Member of Congress Dear Chairwoman DeLauro and Ranking Member Cole: Thank you for your support for the Adult Education State Grant Program in FY 2020. The increased funding will strengthen adult education programs and put more adults on a pathway to greater career opportunities and enhanced economic security. As you consider the Fiscal Year 2021 Appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, we urge you to continue to expand opportunities for all adult learners, including adult English language learners, by providing $692 million for the Adult Education State Grant Program. The need to strengthen the skills base of working adults continues to grow. Increasingly, middle-skill and sustainable wage jobs require education beyond high school. Yet, according to U.S. Census data, more than 22 million working age adults have less than a high school diploma. Additionally, more than 40 million adults in the U.S. have low skills, with nearly one in six having low literacy skills and one in three having low numeracy skills. These adults are less likely to be able to transition to higher-level jobs and more likely to be unemployed. Adult education can make a transformative difference for these Americans -- economically and socially. Research shows that adult participants in basic skills programs experience mean income gains of 53 percent over ten years, compared with an income drop of two percent for nonparticipants. The federal and state tax dollars realized through these income gains represent a significant return on investment for the average annual expenditure of $1,021 per adult learner. Adult learners who participate in basic skills instruction for 100 hours or more demonstrate a substantial increase in their literacy skills. They are also significantly more likely to achieve a high school credential, improve their skills after program completion, and enter postsecondary education and receive credits, as well as vote in national elections. Through adult education programs, participants develop the English language, literacy, numeracy, and digital skills they need to succeed and thrive in the workplace and the community. Unfortunately, existing programs currently serve fewer than ten percent of those in need, and many have long waiting lists. These programs also have limited ability to provide supportive services -- such as job counseling, child care, and transportation -- that enable working class adults to persist in pursuing their educational goals. To enable these programs to continue strengthening American families and our nation’s economic outlook through their vital work, we urge you to support increasing funding for the Adult Education State Grant program to $692 million for Fiscal Year 2021. Thank you for your consideration of this important request.

SB

Sharon Bonney

Mon, Mar 9, 2020 7:09 PM

Hi Deborah,
If it helps, COABE will be putting this letter into our 3 click software so that educators everywhere can easily contact all their legislators with 3 quick clicks. We'll be sending that email out to our members shortly and are happy to share it here as well.

Thanks,

Sharon Bonney

[cid:061660cc-8650-47ba-ab02-bc7c30372652]https://www.facebook.com/COABEHQ/ [cid:b16c7e1d-23fe-44e2-8063-8269011a6cd7] https://twitter.com/COABEHQ [cid:0606550c-36a0-4c22-85dd-a484a11e8e8e] https://www.linkedin.com/company/coalition-on-adult-basic-education/ [cid:1cee502e-67fa-481a-bb4e-e4b4b0dd80c4] https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvCmd7QzQq3e5XzawnVgnTg

[cid:167b62e6-789a-46aa-934f-9dd0c62ff2f7][cid:30860e75-5e2a-4768-8e8d-4103ba165ae5]https://coabe.org/[cid:fe904200-35e9-463d-9f6f-8e1e38b5c82f]

From: Members members-bounces@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org on behalf of Deborah Kennedy deborah.kennedy@key-words.us
Sent: Monday, March 9, 2020 2:45 PM
To: NCL Members members@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org
Subject: [NCL Members] Contact Your Members of Congress: Adult Ed Appropriation for FY 2021

Dear Colleagues,

I'm writing with an update to the appropriations summary that I provided on last week's policy call. Letters requesting an appropriation of $692 million for WIOA Title II (Adult Education and Family Literacy) are now circulating in both the House and the Senate. This is an increase of approximately $14 million over the authorized amount for FY 2020. It reflects the fact that the authorized amounts for WIOA Title II also increased by about $14 million each year over the life of the legislation.

In the Senate, the letter's co-leads are Senator Todd Young (R-IN) and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI). As of today, co-signers are Senators King (I-ME), Duckworth (D-IL), Blumenthal (D-CT), Murphy (D-CT), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Stabenow (D-MI), Shaheen (D-NH), Markey (D-MA), and Baldwin (D-WI). Please contact your Senators to encourage them to sign on. If your Senator is listed above, send a thank-you note! The deadline for Senators to sign on is March 20.
In the House, the co-leads are Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ03) and Representative John Yarmuth (D-KY03). As of today, Reps. Danny K. Davis (D-IL07), Jahana Hayes (D-CT05), and Thomas Suozzi (D-NY03) have signed on. Please contact your Representatives to encourage them to sign on (find your Representative at https://www.house.gov/representatives#name-s). The deadline for Representatives to sign on is March 13.

The text of the House letter, with the cover Dear Colleague letter, is appended below for your reference, and the Senate version is attached. The letters are substantially the same. The main difference is that the House version calls out English language learners specifically.

Please feel free to forward this message and the letters to your contacts so that Members of Congress hear from as many constituents as possible. Thank you!

Deborah

Deborah Kennedy
Senior Consultant / Owner, Key Words
President, National Coalition for Literacy

www.key-words.us http://www.key-words.us
www.national-coalition-literacy.org http://www.national-coalition-literacy.org

Support Funding for Adult Education Programs

Sending Office: Honorable John A. Yarmuth
Sent By: Walker.Robinson@mail.house.gov

Request for Signature(s)

Dear Colleague:

Please join us in sending the attached letter to the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee in support of $692 million for the Adult Education State Grant Program.

This program provides vital investments in adult education initiatives that help improve literacy levels for working adults. As our economy continues to change, individuals need to be equipped with the necessary literacy, numeracy, and digital skills to grow and succeed in the modern workplace. Through the Adult Education State Grant Program, individuals will have expanded access to the critical training and support services that better prepare them for future career opportunities.

I hope you will join me in this effort to provide hard working adults with important skills to succeed in the workplace. To add your name to this letter, please contact Walker Robinson in my office at Walker.Robinson@mail.house.gov mailto:Walker.Robinson@mail.house.gov or Norma Salazar in Rep. Grijalva’s office at Norma.Salazar@mail.house.gov mailto:Norma.Salazar@mail.house.gov.

Sincerely,

John Yarmuth Raúl M. Grijalva

Member of Congress Member of Congress

Dear Chairwoman DeLauro and Ranking Member Cole:

Thank you for your support for the Adult Education State Grant Program in FY 2020. The increased funding will strengthen adult education programs and put more adults on a pathway to greater career opportunities and enhanced economic security. As you consider the Fiscal Year 2021 Appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, we urge you to continue to expand opportunities for all adult learners, including adult English language learners, by providing $692 million for the Adult Education State Grant Program.

The need to strengthen the skills base of working adults continues to grow. Increasingly, middle-skill and sustainable wage jobs require education beyond high school. Yet, according to U.S. Census data, more than 22 million working age adults have less than a high school diploma. Additionally, more than 40 million adults in the U.S. have low skills, with nearly one in six having low literacy skills and one in three having low numeracy skills. These adults are less likely to be able to transition to higher-level jobs and more likely to be unemployed.

Adult education can make a transformative difference for these Americans -- economically and socially. Research shows that adult participants in basic skills programs experience mean income gains of 53 percent over ten years, compared with an income drop of two percent for nonparticipants. The federal and state tax dollars realized through these income gains represent a significant return on investment for the average annual expenditure of $1,021 per adult learner. Adult learners who participate in basic skills instruction for 100 hours or more demonstrate a substantial increase in their literacy skills. They are also significantly more likely to achieve a high school credential, improve their skills after program completion, and enter postsecondary education and receive credits, as well as vote in national elections.

Through adult education programs, participants develop the English language, literacy, numeracy, and digital skills they need to succeed and thrive in the workplace and the community. Unfortunately, existing programs currently serve fewer than ten percent of those in need, and many have long waiting lists. These programs also have limited ability to provide supportive services -- such as job counseling, child care, and transportation -- that enable working class adults to persist in pursuing their educational goals. To enable these programs to continue strengthening American families and our nation’s economic outlook through their vital work, we urge you to support increasing funding for the Adult Education State Grant program to $692 million for Fiscal Year 2021.

Thank you for your consideration of this important request.

Hi Deborah, If it helps, COABE will be putting this letter into our 3 click software so that educators everywhere can easily contact all their legislators with 3 quick clicks. We'll be sending that email out to our members shortly and are happy to share it here as well. Thanks, Sharon Bonney Chief Executive Officer | Coalition on Adult Basic Education | sharonmbonney@coabe.org P: 888-44-COABE (888-442-6223) | F: 866-941-5129 | www.COABE.org<http://www.coabe.org/> | PO Box 1820 Cicero, NY 13039 [cid:061660cc-8650-47ba-ab02-bc7c30372652]<https://www.facebook.com/COABEHQ/> [cid:b16c7e1d-23fe-44e2-8063-8269011a6cd7] <https://twitter.com/COABEHQ> [cid:0606550c-36a0-4c22-85dd-a484a11e8e8e] <https://www.linkedin.com/company/coalition-on-adult-basic-education/> [cid:1cee502e-67fa-481a-bb4e-e4b4b0dd80c4] <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvCmd7QzQq3e5XzawnVgnTg> [cid:167b62e6-789a-46aa-934f-9dd0c62ff2f7][cid:30860e75-5e2a-4768-8e8d-4103ba165ae5]<https://coabe.org/>[cid:fe904200-35e9-463d-9f6f-8e1e38b5c82f] ________________________________ From: Members <members-bounces@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org> on behalf of Deborah Kennedy <deborah.kennedy@key-words.us> Sent: Monday, March 9, 2020 2:45 PM To: NCL Members <members@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org> Subject: [NCL Members] Contact Your Members of Congress: Adult Ed Appropriation for FY 2021 Dear Colleagues, I'm writing with an update to the appropriations summary that I provided on last week's policy call. Letters requesting an appropriation of $692 million for WIOA Title II (Adult Education and Family Literacy) are now circulating in both the House and the Senate. This is an increase of approximately $14 million over the authorized amount for FY 2020. It reflects the fact that the authorized amounts for WIOA Title II also increased by about $14 million each year over the life of the legislation. - In the Senate, the letter's co-leads are Senator Todd Young (R-IN) and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI). As of today, co-signers are Senators King (I-ME), Duckworth (D-IL), Blumenthal (D-CT), Murphy (D-CT), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Stabenow (D-MI), Shaheen (D-NH), Markey (D-MA), and Baldwin (D-WI). Please contact your Senators to encourage them to sign on. If your Senator is listed above, send a thank-you note! The deadline for Senators to sign on is March 20. - In the House, the co-leads are Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ03) and Representative John Yarmuth (D-KY03). As of today, Reps. Danny K. Davis (D-IL07), Jahana Hayes (D-CT05), and Thomas Suozzi (D-NY03) have signed on. Please contact your Representatives to encourage them to sign on (find your Representative at https://www.house.gov/representatives#name-s). The deadline for Representatives to sign on is March 13. The text of the House letter, with the cover Dear Colleague letter, is appended below for your reference, and the Senate version is attached. The letters are substantially the same. The main difference is that the House version calls out English language learners specifically. Please feel free to forward this message and the letters to your contacts so that Members of Congress hear from as many constituents as possible. Thank you! Deborah Deborah Kennedy Senior Consultant / Owner, Key Words President, National Coalition for Literacy www.key-words.us<http://www.key-words.us> www.national-coalition-literacy.org<http://www.national-coalition-literacy.org> Support Funding for Adult Education Programs Sending Office: Honorable John A. Yarmuth Sent By: Walker.Robinson@mail.house.gov Request for Signature(s) Dear Colleague: Please join us in sending the attached letter to the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee in support of $692 million for the Adult Education State Grant Program. This program provides vital investments in adult education initiatives that help improve literacy levels for working adults. As our economy continues to change, individuals need to be equipped with the necessary literacy, numeracy, and digital skills to grow and succeed in the modern workplace. Through the Adult Education State Grant Program, individuals will have expanded access to the critical training and support services that better prepare them for future career opportunities. I hope you will join me in this effort to provide hard working adults with important skills to succeed in the workplace. To add your name to this letter, please contact Walker Robinson in my office at Walker.Robinson@mail.house.gov<mailto:Walker.Robinson@mail.house.gov> or Norma Salazar in Rep. Grijalva’s office at Norma.Salazar@mail.house.gov<mailto:Norma.Salazar@mail.house.gov>. Sincerely, John Yarmuth Raúl M. Grijalva Member of Congress Member of Congress Dear Chairwoman DeLauro and Ranking Member Cole: Thank you for your support for the Adult Education State Grant Program in FY 2020. The increased funding will strengthen adult education programs and put more adults on a pathway to greater career opportunities and enhanced economic security. As you consider the Fiscal Year 2021 Appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, we urge you to continue to expand opportunities for all adult learners, including adult English language learners, by providing $692 million for the Adult Education State Grant Program. The need to strengthen the skills base of working adults continues to grow. Increasingly, middle-skill and sustainable wage jobs require education beyond high school. Yet, according to U.S. Census data, more than 22 million working age adults have less than a high school diploma. Additionally, more than 40 million adults in the U.S. have low skills, with nearly one in six having low literacy skills and one in three having low numeracy skills. These adults are less likely to be able to transition to higher-level jobs and more likely to be unemployed. Adult education can make a transformative difference for these Americans -- economically and socially. Research shows that adult participants in basic skills programs experience mean income gains of 53 percent over ten years, compared with an income drop of two percent for nonparticipants. The federal and state tax dollars realized through these income gains represent a significant return on investment for the average annual expenditure of $1,021 per adult learner. Adult learners who participate in basic skills instruction for 100 hours or more demonstrate a substantial increase in their literacy skills. They are also significantly more likely to achieve a high school credential, improve their skills after program completion, and enter postsecondary education and receive credits, as well as vote in national elections. Through adult education programs, participants develop the English language, literacy, numeracy, and digital skills they need to succeed and thrive in the workplace and the community. Unfortunately, existing programs currently serve fewer than ten percent of those in need, and many have long waiting lists. These programs also have limited ability to provide supportive services -- such as job counseling, child care, and transportation -- that enable working class adults to persist in pursuing their educational goals. To enable these programs to continue strengthening American families and our nation’s economic outlook through their vital work, we urge you to support increasing funding for the Adult Education State Grant program to $692 million for Fiscal Year 2021. Thank you for your consideration of this important request.

DK

Deborah Kennedy

Mon, Mar 9, 2020 7:21 PM

That's great, Sharon -- thanks! When you have the link ready to go, please do share it with the NCL list.

Deborah

---- On Mon, 09 Mar 2020 15:09:11 -0400 Sharon Bonney sharonmbonney@coabe.org wrote ----

Hi Deborah,

If it helps, COABE will be putting this letter into our 3 click software so that educators everywhere can easily contact all their legislators with 3 quick clicks. We'll be sending that email out to our members shortly and are happy to share it here as well.

Thanks,

Sharon
Bonney

https://www.facebook.com/COABEHQ/ https://twitter.com/COABEHQ https://www.linkedin.com/company/coalition-on-adult-basic-education/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvCmd7QzQq3e5XzawnVgnTg

https://coabe.org/

From: Members mailto:members-bounces@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org on behalf of Deborah Kennedy mailto:deborah.kennedy@key-words.us
Sent: Monday, March 9, 2020 2:45 PM
To: NCL Members mailto:members@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org
Subject: [NCL Members] Contact Your Members of Congress: Adult Ed Appropriation for FY 2021

Dear Colleagues,

I'm writing with an update to the appropriations summary that I provided on last week's policy call. Letters requesting an appropriation of $692 million for WIOA Title II (Adult Education and
Family Literacy) are now circulating in both the House and the Senate. This is an increase of approximately $14 million over the authorized amount for FY 2020. It reflects the fact that the authorized amounts for WIOA Title II also increased by about $14 million each year over the life of the legislation.

In the Senate, the letter's co-leads are Senator Todd Young (R-IN) and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI). As of today, co-signers are Senators King (I-ME), Duckworth (D-IL), Blumenthal (D-CT), Murphy
(D-CT), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Stabenow (D-MI), Shaheen (D-NH), Markey (D-MA), and Baldwin (D-WI). Please contact your Senators to encourage them to sign on. If your Senator is listed above, send a thank-you note! The
deadline for Senators to sign on is March 20.
In the House, the co-leads are Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ03) and Representative John Yarmuth (D-KY03). As of today, Reps. Danny K. Davis (D-IL07), Jahana Hayes (D-CT05), and Thomas Suozzi
(D-NY03) have signed on. Please contact your Representatives to encourage them to sign on (find your Representative at https://www.house.gov/representatives#name-s). The deadline for Representatives to sign on is March 13.

The text of the House letter, with the cover Dear Colleague letter, is appended below for your reference, and the Senate version is attached. The letters are substantially the same. The main difference is that the House version calls out English language
learners specifically.

Please feel free to forward this message and the letters to your contacts so that Members of Congress hear from as many constituents as possible. Thank you!

Deborah

Deborah Kennedy

Senior Consultant / Owner, Key Words

President, National Coalition for Literacy

http://www.key-words.us

http://www.national-coalition-literacy.org

Support
Funding for Adult Education Programs

Sending
Office: Honorable John A. Yarmuth
Sent By:

Request
for Signature(s)

Dear
Colleague:

Please
join us in sending the attached letter to the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee in support of $692 million for the Adult Education State Grant Program.

This
program provides vital investments in adult education initiatives that help improve literacy levels for working adults. As our economy continues to change, individuals need to be equipped with the necessary literacy, numeracy, and digital skills to grow and
succeed in the modern workplace. Through the Adult Education State Grant Program, individuals will have expanded access to the critical training and support services that better prepare them for future career opportunities.

I
hope you will join me in this effort to provide hard working adults with important skills to succeed in the workplace. To add your name to this letter, please contact Walker Robinson in my office at mailto:Walker.Robinson@mail.house.gov or
Norma Salazar in Rep. Grijalva’s office at mailto:Norma.Salazar@mail.house.gov.

Sincerely,

John
Yarmuth Raúl M. Grijalva

Member
of Congress Member of Congress

Dear
Chairwoman DeLauro and Ranking Member Cole:

Thank
you for your support for the Adult Education State Grant Program in FY 2020. The increased funding will strengthen adult education programs and put more adults on a pathway to greater career opportunities and enhanced economic security. As you consider the
Fiscal Year 2021 Appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, we urge you to continue to expand opportunities for all adult learners, including adult English language learners, by providing $692 million for the
Adult Education State Grant Program.

The
need to strengthen the skills base of working adults continues to grow. Increasingly, middle-skill and sustainable wage jobs require education beyond high school. Yet, according to U.S. Census data, more than 22 million working age adults have less than a
high school diploma. Additionally, more than 40 million adults in the U.S. have low skills, with nearly one in six having low literacy skills and one in three having low numeracy skills. These adults are less likely to be able to transition to higher-level
jobs and more likely to be unemployed.

Adult
education can make a transformative difference for these Americans -- economically and socially. Research shows that adult participants in basic skills programs experience mean income gains of 53 percent over ten years, compared with an income drop of two
percent for nonparticipants. The federal and state tax dollars realized through these income gains represent a significant return on investment for the average annual expenditure of $1,021 per adult learner. Adult learners who participate in basic skills instruction
for 100 hours or more demonstrate a substantial increase in their literacy skills. They are also significantly more likely to achieve a high school credential, improve their skills after program completion, and enter postsecondary education and receive credits,
as well as vote in national elections.

Through
adult education programs, participants develop the English language, literacy, numeracy, and digital skills they need to succeed and thrive in the workplace and the community. Unfortunately, existing programs currently serve fewer than ten percent of those
in need, and many have long waiting lists. These programs also have limited ability to provide supportive services -- such as job counseling, child care, and transportation -- that enable working class adults to persist in pursuing their educational goals.
To enable these programs to continue strengthening American families and our nation’s economic outlook through their vital work, we urge you to support increasing funding for the Adult Education State Grant program to $692 million for Fiscal Year 2021.

Thank
you for your consideration of this important request.

That's great, Sharon -- thanks! When you have the link ready to go, please do share it with the NCL list. Deborah ---- On Mon, 09 Mar 2020 15:09:11 -0400 Sharon Bonney <sharonmbonney@coabe.org> wrote ---- Hi Deborah, If it helps, COABE will be putting this letter into our 3 click software so that educators everywhere can easily contact all their legislators with 3 quick clicks. We'll be sending that email out to our members shortly and are happy to share it here as well. Thanks, Sharon Bonney Chief Executive Officer | Coalition on Adult Basic Education | mailto:sharonmbonney@coabe.org P: 888-44-COABE (888-442-6223) | F: 866-941-5129 | http://www.coabe.org/ | PO Box 1820 Cicero, NY 13039 https://www.facebook.com/COABEHQ/ https://twitter.com/COABEHQ https://www.linkedin.com/company/coalition-on-adult-basic-education/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvCmd7QzQq3e5XzawnVgnTg https://coabe.org/ From: Members <mailto:members-bounces@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org> on behalf of Deborah Kennedy <mailto:deborah.kennedy@key-words.us> Sent: Monday, March 9, 2020 2:45 PM To: NCL Members <mailto:members@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org> Subject: [NCL Members] Contact Your Members of Congress: Adult Ed Appropriation for FY 2021 Dear Colleagues, I'm writing with an update to the appropriations summary that I provided on last week's policy call. Letters requesting an appropriation of $692 million for WIOA Title II (Adult Education and Family Literacy) are now circulating in both the House and the Senate. This is an increase of approximately $14 million over the authorized amount for FY 2020. It reflects the fact that the authorized amounts for WIOA Title II also increased by about $14 million each year over the life of the legislation. - In the Senate, the letter's co-leads are Senator Todd Young (R-IN) and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI). As of today, co-signers are Senators King (I-ME), Duckworth (D-IL), Blumenthal (D-CT), Murphy (D-CT), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Stabenow (D-MI), Shaheen (D-NH), Markey (D-MA), and Baldwin (D-WI). Please contact your Senators to encourage them to sign on. If your Senator is listed above, send a thank-you note! The deadline for Senators to sign on is March 20. - In the House, the co-leads are Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ03) and Representative John Yarmuth (D-KY03). As of today, Reps. Danny K. Davis (D-IL07), Jahana Hayes (D-CT05), and Thomas Suozzi (D-NY03) have signed on. Please contact your Representatives to encourage them to sign on (find your Representative at https://www.house.gov/representatives#name-s). The deadline for Representatives to sign on is March 13. The text of the House letter, with the cover Dear Colleague letter, is appended below for your reference, and the Senate version is attached. The letters are substantially the same. The main difference is that the House version calls out English language learners specifically. Please feel free to forward this message and the letters to your contacts so that Members of Congress hear from as many constituents as possible. Thank you! Deborah Deborah Kennedy Senior Consultant / Owner, Key Words President, National Coalition for Literacy http://www.key-words.us http://www.national-coalition-literacy.org Support Funding for Adult Education Programs Sending Office: Honorable John A. Yarmuth Sent By: Request for Signature(s) Dear Colleague: Please join us in sending the attached letter to the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee in support of $692 million for the Adult Education State Grant Program. This program provides vital investments in adult education initiatives that help improve literacy levels for working adults. As our economy continues to change, individuals need to be equipped with the necessary literacy, numeracy, and digital skills to grow and succeed in the modern workplace. Through the Adult Education State Grant Program, individuals will have expanded access to the critical training and support services that better prepare them for future career opportunities. I hope you will join me in this effort to provide hard working adults with important skills to succeed in the workplace. To add your name to this letter, please contact Walker Robinson in my office at mailto:Walker.Robinson@mail.house.gov or Norma Salazar in Rep. Grijalva’s office at mailto:Norma.Salazar@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, John Yarmuth Raúl M. Grijalva Member of Congress Member of Congress Dear Chairwoman DeLauro and Ranking Member Cole: Thank you for your support for the Adult Education State Grant Program in FY 2020. The increased funding will strengthen adult education programs and put more adults on a pathway to greater career opportunities and enhanced economic security. As you consider the Fiscal Year 2021 Appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, we urge you to continue to expand opportunities for all adult learners, including adult English language learners, by providing $692 million for the Adult Education State Grant Program. The need to strengthen the skills base of working adults continues to grow. Increasingly, middle-skill and sustainable wage jobs require education beyond high school. Yet, according to U.S. Census data, more than 22 million working age adults have less than a high school diploma. Additionally, more than 40 million adults in the U.S. have low skills, with nearly one in six having low literacy skills and one in three having low numeracy skills. These adults are less likely to be able to transition to higher-level jobs and more likely to be unemployed. Adult education can make a transformative difference for these Americans -- economically and socially. Research shows that adult participants in basic skills programs experience mean income gains of 53 percent over ten years, compared with an income drop of two percent for nonparticipants. The federal and state tax dollars realized through these income gains represent a significant return on investment for the average annual expenditure of $1,021 per adult learner. Adult learners who participate in basic skills instruction for 100 hours or more demonstrate a substantial increase in their literacy skills. They are also significantly more likely to achieve a high school credential, improve their skills after program completion, and enter postsecondary education and receive credits, as well as vote in national elections. Through adult education programs, participants develop the English language, literacy, numeracy, and digital skills they need to succeed and thrive in the workplace and the community. Unfortunately, existing programs currently serve fewer than ten percent of those in need, and many have long waiting lists. These programs also have limited ability to provide supportive services -- such as job counseling, child care, and transportation -- that enable working class adults to persist in pursuing their educational goals. To enable these programs to continue strengthening American families and our nation’s economic outlook through their vital work, we urge you to support increasing funding for the Adult Education State Grant program to $692 million for Fiscal Year 2021. Thank you for your consideration of this important request.