Strengthen and Unite Communities with Civics Education and English Development Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2794
Sponsor: Rep. Honda, Michael M. [D-CA-17]
Introduced: 2015-06-16 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Adult education and literacy
Citizenship and naturalization
Commemorative events and holidays
Education programs funding
Educational technology and distance education
Elementary and secondary education
Employee benefits and pensions
Employment and training programs
Executive Office of the President
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Immigrant health and welfare
Income tax credits
Language arts
State and local government operations
Teaching, teachers, curricula
U.S. history
U.S. territories and protectorates

Summary:
action_date: 2015-06-16
text: 

Strengthen and Unite Communities with Civics Education and English Development Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act to: (1) award grants to states for integrated English literacy, U.S. history, and civics education programs; and (2) expand certain federally funded adult education and literacy activities to include such programs.
 
 This bill establishes the Office of Citizenship and Immigrant Integration to form national goals, assess and coordinate policies, and assist with other efforts related to new Americans. The office may award grants to states to form and operate State New American Councils to, among other activities: (1) develop, implement, or enhance plans to introduce new immigrants to a state; and (2) disseminate best practices pertaining to English acquisition and civics education.
 
The bill also establishes, as part of the general business credit, a tax credit for employer-provided adult English literacy and basic education programs. For the taxable year, the employer's credit is an amount equal to 20% of qualified education program expenses, or no more than $1,000 per full-time employee participating in the program.
 
In addition, the bill establishes the Presidential Award for Business Leadership in Promoting United States Citizenship to recognize businesses and other organizations, and a citizen award program to recognize naturalized citizens who have made an outstanding contribution to the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.
action_date: 2015-06-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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.
action_date: 2015-06-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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.
action_date: 2015-06-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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.
action_date: 2015-06-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-06-16
text: Introduced in House