I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1336
To amend the Adult Education Act to authorize the Secretary of Education
to make grants to States to provide support services to participants
in adult education programs.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 15, 1997
Mr. SMITH of Texas (for himself, Mr. ROEMER, Mrs. ROUKEMA, and Mr.
WATT of North Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Education and the Workorce
A BILL
To amend the Adult Education Act to authorize the Sec-
retary of Education to make grants to States to provide
support services to participants in adult education pro-
grams.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) There are approximately 46,100,000 adults
16 years of age or older who are not in school, are
without a high school diploma, or who score in the
lowest 2 levels of the National Adult Literacy Sur-
vey.
(2) Only 9 percent of those 46,100,000 illit-
erate adults are served by available adult education
programs nationwide.
(3) Participation in adult education programs
should be increased to 25 percent.
(4) Increased participation will result in a drop
in the number of individuals on public assistance
and an increase in the number of individuals who
are gainfully employed.
(5) Studies show that literacy levels are strong-
ly correlated with educational attainment, income,
and employment status.
(6) An Ohio University economist has estimated
that adult illiteracy costs Americans more than
$175,000,000,000 per year through lost income and
tax revenue, higher unemployment, more crime, and
higher training costs for business and industry.
(7) The Department of Education has reported
that individuals who successfully complete adult edu-
cation programs are likely to use support services,
and that the availability of support services is a sub-
stantial predictor of enrollee classroom attendance.
(8) Studies show that the most influential vari-
able in a child’s participation and success in school
is parental educational level.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Adult Education Act (20
U.S.C. 1201 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section
373 the following:
‘‘SEC. 374. GRANTS FOR SUPPORT SERVICES.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may make grants
on the basis of a competitive review process to States for
the purpose of providing support services to adults en-
rolled in, or desiring to enroll in, adult education pro-
grams, services, or activities, who otherwise would be un-
able to do so. Such support services may include child
care, transportation, or any other service that the Sec-
retary determines is consistent with this section.
‘‘(b) NUMBER
OF GRANTS.—The Secretary may
make not more than ten, 3 year grants under this section.
‘‘(c) APPLICATIONS.—To apply for a grant under this
section, a State shall submit an application to the Sec-
retary in accordance with the procedures established by
the Secretary.
‘‘(d) EVALUATION.—The Secretary shall, through
contracts with nongovernmental entities, provide for a cu-
mulative review of the progress and effectiveness of at
least five grants made under this section.
‘‘(e) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary shall
submit an interim report to the Congress concerning the
results of the evaluations conducted under subsection (d),
not later than the end of the second year in which the
Secretary makes grants under this section. The Secretary
shall submit a final report to the Congress concerning
such subject not later than the end of the third year for
which the Secretary makes grants under this section.
‘‘(f) FUNDING.—
‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—
For the purpose of carrying out this section, there
are authorized to be appropriated $12,000,000 for
each of the fiscal years 1998 through 2000. No
amount may be expended to carry out the provisions
of this section in any fiscal year unless the amount
appropriated for such fiscal year pursuant to section
313 equals or exceeds the amount appropriated pur-
suant to such section for fiscal year 1997.
‘‘(2) SET-ASIDE
FOR
EVALUATION.—Of the
amounts appropriated under paragraph (1) for a fis-
cal year, the Secretary shall reserve not more than
17 percent for carrying out subsection (d).’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(1) BASIC
PROGRAM
AUTHORIZATION
OF
AP-
PROPRIATIONS.—Section 313(a) of the Adult Edu-
cation Act (20 U.S.C. 1201b(a)) is amended by
striking ‘‘371 and 372).’’ and inserting ‘‘371, 372,
and 374).’’.
(2) PART C HEADING.—The part heading for
part C of the Adult Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1211
et seq.) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘PART C—WORKPLACE LITERACY, ENG-
LISH LITERACY GRANTS, AND GRANTS
FOR SUPPORT SERVICES’’.
Æ