Budget and Appropriations

Budget and Appropriations = On an annual basis, the federal budget sets the ceiling for total federal spending; the appropriations bills allocate the amount of spending for each program.

Funding for Adult Education and Family Literacy
Bottom Line: 93 million adults in the US struggle with literacy; 30 million have below basic skills; 11 million cannot communicate in English. Their lack of literacy skills affects their ability to earn a living wage and our nation’s ability to remain competitive in a global economy. Many do not have the literacy skills needed to help their children with school, to take better care of their health and the health of their families, to vote and participate fully in civic life. Adult education and literacy is the key to achieving the American dream, but Congress has not allocated enough funds to meet the need and demand for adult education and literacy services. We must educate policymakers on how adult literacy impacts their communities. We must advocate for increased funding for adult education and literacy.

Authorization

Authorization = Tells us what we can use the money for.

Reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), Title II
Bottom Line:  Congress has yet to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act. Programs continue to operate under the rules of WIA, Title II as it was authorized in 1998. Congress must act now to reauthorize WIA and address the Coalition’s issues. Failing to act prevents the field from moving forward and ensuring the best possible education for adult learners. Once reauthorization begins, advocates will need to mobilize with the Coalition at key times during the process to ensure that Congress is addressing the Coalition’s issues.

Why Consensus Matters

The Coalition is active on legislative issues that impact adult literacy. A cornerstone of the Coalition’s advocacy is to reach consensus (agreement) on issues. When many voices send the same message to Congress on an issue, we are united on that issue. Our voices are heard and we are more likely to influence the outcome.

But if Congress hears conflicting messages from the field, the field appears disorganized. It sends the message to Congress that we are divided. Members of Congress are then less likely to support us on that issue. If a groundswell of advocacy is all over the map, not organized and coordinated, and if it happens to be working at cross purposes, then legislators will ignore it. What else could they do? They will not have heard the "voice" of the field; they will have heard a cacophony of disagreeing voices, cancelling each other out.

Thus, it is critical to achieve consensus in advocacy. Click on the red links to the left and below to learn about the issues, what the Coalition supports or opposes and why, and next steps.

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