[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 131 (Monday, September 15, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5589-S5590]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. REED:
  S. 2802. A bill to amend the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 
and the Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002 to strengthen 
research in adult education; to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce the Strengthening 
Research in Adult Education Act. The recently enacted Workforce 
Innovation and Opportunity Act recognized that the adult education 
field has evolved from a literacy skills program to a more 
comprehensive college and career readiness initiative to ensure that 
adult learners have the foundational skills to fully participate in the 
community and compete for jobs that provide family sustaining wages. We 
need to ensure that there is a strong research base to support this 
vital transition.
  For 2012, data from the Program for the International Assessment of 
Adult Competencies show that an estimated 52 percent of adults ages 16-
65 in the United States lack the literacy skills necessary to identify, 
interpret, or evaluate one or more pieces of information. These are 
essential skills for postsecondary education and the workplace. Beyond 
their value in the labor market, these skills are also correlated with 
health and civic participation. Clearly, improving adult education is 
critically important to the health and well-being of our people, our 
economy, and our democracy.
  In Rhode Island, it is estimated that nearly 130,000 adults have less 
than a high school education. Over 45,000 have limited English 
proficiency. Yet, we are reaching less than 6,000 through the current 
adult education program.

[[Page S5590]]

Clearly, we need more resources and innovative, research-based ways to 
reach more people.
  The Strengthening Research in Adult Education Act will support the 
key reforms to adult education in the Workforce Innovation and 
Opportunity Act by ensuring that adult education is included in our 
national education research priorities. Specifically, the Strengthening 
Research in Adult Education Act will amend the Education Sciences 
Reform Act to require the Institute for Education Sciences and the 
National Center for Education Statistics to collect data and carry out 
research on: successful state and local adult education and literacy 
activities, the characteristics and academic achievement of adult 
learners, and access to and opportunity for adult education in 
communities across the country. It will also ensure that the Institute 
of Education Sciences draws on the expertise of adult educators when 
developing policies and priorities. Finally, the legislation would 
require that at least one research center would focus on adult 
education.
  These straightforward amendments to the Education Sciences Reform Act 
will go a long way to strengthening the research base that will support 
the improvement of adult education across the country. I was pleased to 
work with the adult education community, and particularly, the National 
Council of State Directors of Adult Education in developing this 
legislation. I urge my colleagues to support the Strengthening Research 
in Adult Education Act and to work with me to ensure that its 
provisions are included in the reauthorization of the Education 
Sciences Reform Act.

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