[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 116 (Thursday, July 31, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10671-S10672]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. CLINTON (for herself, Mr. Ensign, and Mr. Bingaman):
  S. 1543. A bill to amend and improve provisions relating to the 
workforce investment and adult education systems of the Nation; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I rise to announce that today I am 
introducing The Access to Employment and English Acquisition Act with 
Senator Ensign and Senator Bingaman. I am grateful to both Senators for 
working with me to develop this legislation. I consider them partners 
in the important effort to expand opportunities for job training for 
Limited English Proficient individuals. I also want to thank the 
dedicated individuals at the New York Immigration Coalition, the 
National Immigration Law Center, the National Council at La Raza and 
the Immigration Forum for their significant contributions to this 
proposal.
  It is vitally important that our workforce investment system be 
responsive to the needs of those who do not speak English. Immigrants 
and Limited English Proficient individuals play a crucial role in the 
New York State and

[[Page S10672]]

U.S. economy. Immigrants account for nearly half of the growth in the 
civilian labor force between 1990 and 2000 and immigrants are projected 
to account for all of the growth in the prime-age labor force between 
2000 and 2020.
  Immigrants fill critical jobs, are the backbone of many industries, 
and are net contributors to the Nation's tax base. Without current and 
future immigrants in the workforce, our aging society will be short of 
workers; short of savings and investment to support national economic 
growth; and short of tax revenues to finance government services and 
Social Security outlays.
  The Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on which I serve, 
is in the process of reauthorizing the Workforce Investment (WIA). WIA 
reauthorization provides a valuable opportunity for Congress to improve 
our Nation's workforce development system to effectively serve 
immigrants and persons who are Limited English proficient. And I look 
forward to working with my colleagues on the HELP Committee to 
incorporate this legislation into the reauthorization bill.
  The Access to Employment and English Acquisition Act will reduce 
barriers to job training for English language learners by creating 
incentives for training providers to serve these individuals. It will 
also make programs that integrate job training and language acquisition 
more accessible. Employees have found that integrated programs offer a 
significant return on their investment because they improve 
productivity, reduce attendance problems, increase job retention rates, 
and promote overall quality control. Limited English Proficient persons 
also benefit from integrated training through improved job security, 
increased job advancement, and a greater ability to participate in 
society.
  There is no question that English proficiency is critical to economic 
advancement and improved quality of life for LEP workers and their 
families. Workers who are fluent in oral and written English earn about 
24 percent more than those who lack fluency, regardless of their 
qualifications. These individuals are better able to participate in the 
civic life of their community, which so many LEP individuals in New 
York tell me they want to do.
  I look forward to continuing the work with Senator Ensign and Senator 
Bingaman to improve job training services for immigrants and LEP 
individuals.
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