I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6617 
To strengthen communities through English literacy, civics, education, and 
immigrant integration programs. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 24, 2008 
Mr. HONDA (for himself, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. GRIJALVA, 
Mr. ELLISON, Mr. CUELLAR, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Ms. BORDALLO, Ms. 
HIRONO, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Ms. MATSUI, and Mr. BECERRA) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Edu-
cation and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
committee concerned 
A BILL 
To strengthen communities through English literacy, civics, 
education, and immigrant integration programs. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Strengthening Commu-
nities Through Education and Integration Act of 2008’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) According to the United States Census, over 
23,000,000 United States residents do not speak 
English well. 
(2) According to the National Assessment of 
Adult Literacy, 93,000,000 adults in the United 
States have limited reading, writing, and mathe-
matics skills, and 14 percent of adults in the United 
States have below basic proficiency in prose literacy. 
(3) Only three percent of the 93,000,000 adults 
who could benefit from adult education services, 
English literacy, and civics education programs actu-
ally participate in such services and programs. 
(4) There is a growing and urgent need for ad-
ditional English literacy and civics education pro-
grams for adults in the United States. 
(5) It is beneficial to new immigrants, host 
communities, States, and the Nation for immigrants 
to timely adjust to life in the United States, learn 
English, become citizens, buy homes, start busi-
nesses, send their children to college, and thrive eco-
nomically. 
(6) A proactive policy for new Americans at the 
State and local levels will maximize the benefits im-
migrants bring to States and municipalities, while 
helping immigrants integrate as quickly as possible. 
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TITLE I—EXPANDING ENGLISH 
LITERACY AND CIVICS EDU-
CATION 
SEC. 101. INCREASED INVESTMENT IN ENGLISH ACQUISI-
TION UNDER THE ADULT EDUCATION AND 
FAMILY LITERACY ACT. 
(a) INTEGRATED ENGLISH LITERACY AND CIVICS 
EDUCATION PROGRAM.—Section 203 of the Adult Edu-
cation and Family Literacy Act (20 U.S.C. 9202) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(19) INTEGRATED
ENGLISH
LITERACY
AND 
CIVICS EDUCATION PROGRAM.—The term ‘integrated 
English literacy and civics education program’ 
means a program of instruction designed to help an 
English language learner achieve competence in 
English through contextualized instruction on the 
rights and responsibilities of citizenship, naturaliza-
tion procedures, civic participation, and United 
States history and government to help such learner 
acquire the skills and knowledge to become an active 
and informed parent, worker, and community mem-
ber.’’. 
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(b) 
STATE
LEADERSHIP
ACTIVITIES.—Section 
223(a) of the such Act (20 U.S.C. 9223(a)) is amended 
by inserting after paragraph (11) the following: 
‘‘(12) Technical assistance for grant applica-
tions of faith and community-based organizations. 
‘‘(13) The study of the effectiveness of distance 
learning or self-study programs to assist the English 
language learner population acquire English.’’. 
(c) NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR LITERACY.—Section 
242(c)(1) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 9252(c)(1)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subparagraph (A)— 
(A) by redesignating clauses (ii), (iii), and 
(iv) as clauses (iii), (iv), and (v), respectively; 
and 
(B) by inserting after clause (i) the fol-
lowing new clause: 
‘‘(ii) effective practices in the provi-
sion of integrated English literacy and 
civics education programs;’’; 
(2) by redesignating subparagraphs (G), (H), 
and (I) as subparagraphs (H), (I), and (J), respec-
tively; and 
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the fol-
lowing new subparagraph: 
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‘‘(G) to coordinate and share information 
with national organizations and associations 
that are interested in integrated English lit-
eracy and civics education programs;’’. 
(d) REPORT.—Section 242(k) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 
9252(k)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as para-
graph (4); and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) a separate analysis of— 
‘‘(A) national and State adult English in-
struction needs; 
‘‘(B) data on the composition of recent im-
migration flows and immigration settlement 
patterns across the United States; and 
‘‘(C) estimated instructional needs based 
on the English ability and educational attain-
ment of English language learners under recent 
migration patterns; and’’. 
(e) NATIONAL LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES.—Section 
243 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 9253) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
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(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting 
‘‘and integrated English literacy and civics edu-
cation programs’’ before the semicolon at the 
end; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 
‘‘and integrated English literacy and civics edu-
cation programs’’ before ‘‘, based on scientific 
evidence’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 
‘‘and integrated English literacy and civics edu-
cation programs’’ before the semicolon at the 
end; 
(B) in subparagraph (D)(ii), by inserting 
‘‘integrated English literacy and civics edu-
cation programs,’’ before ‘‘and workplace lit-
eracy programs’’; and 
(C) in subparagraph (E)— 
(i) in clause (i), by inserting ‘‘and in-
tegrated English literacy and civics edu-
cation programs’’ before the semicolon at 
the end; 
(ii) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; 
(iii) in clause (iv)— 
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