The National Coalition for Literacy has some terrific news for you! On Monday, August 1st, Representative Jared Polis (D-CO) introduced, for the third year in a row, a House resolution (H. Res. 385) designating the week of September 12th as National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week 2011! Despite the fact that new rules in the House prohibit votes on such commemorative legislation, Representative Polis is so committed to this issue that he introduced this legislation anyway, because this type of recognition is so important to us.
States and local entities have followed this national leadership in previous years to establish state and local resolutions for our cause. It ultimately serves to leverage local partnerships, resources, and funding for adult education and family literacy nationwide.
In addition, for the very first time a similar bipartisan resolution recognizing the week of September 12th as National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week will be introduced in the Senate by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN). They plan to introduce it the week of September 5, 2011. We are very appreciative of the leadership in both the House and Senate to raise awareness of the critical role adult education and family literacy plays in our country, in our economy, and for the nation’s well being.
Action Request
The good news is that we will not need a minimum number of co-sponsors to move either piece of legislation forward. However, it will be important to show strong, bipartisan support for our issue by having Representatives and Senators stand behind the commemoration of this week.
Action: Call or email Members of Congress
Message: Support the resolution for National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week 2011.
House Member offices should contact Scott Groginsky with Representative Polis to sign on in support of H. Res. 385. Cosponsors thus far include Representative John Sarbanes (D-MD), Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), and Representative Mike McIntyre (D-NC).
Senator offices should contact either Jordan Smith with Senator Murray’s office or Peter Oppenheim with Senator Alexander’s office to sign on in support of National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week 2011.
Thank yous should go to Representative Polis for sponsoring H.Res. 385 and to Representative Sarbanes, Representative Holmes Norton, and Representative McIntyre for cosponsoring it. Thank yous should also go to Senator Murray and Senator Alexander for their work to introduce the first ever Senate resolution dedicating National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week.
In the meantime, watch for resources and updates from the National Coalition for Literacy that will help you celebrate this commemorative event. At a time when education is facing budgetary and political challenges, it’s critical we lift every voice for adult education and family literacy. Our nation’s economy and well-being depend on it.
If you have questions, contact the National Coalition for Literacy.
Take action at http://bit.ly/AEFLWeek2011_web
Or, take action via NCL’s Facebook alert for greater impact: http://bit.ly/AEFLWeek2011
