Sponsors (6)
The bill raises awareness of widespread adult literacy, numeracy, and digital-skill gaps — potentially driving beneficial adult-education, workforce, and prison-education investments — but risks cost pressures, stigmatizing affected groups, and misuse of findings for restrictive policies.
Millions of adults with low literacy, numeracy, or digital skills — the bill's identification of these needs could justify expanded adult-education programs and funding, improving access to basic skills and lifelong learning.
Unemployed and low-skilled workers — highlighting skill gaps could prompt workforce-development efforts that increase job prospects and reduce long-term unemployment.
Incarcerated people and those reentering society — noting low educational skills among prisoners supports expansion of in-prison education and reentry training that can lower recidivism and improve employment outcomes.
Low-skilled adults and marginalized communities — framing the problem primarily as individual deficits risks stigmatizing people and diverting attention from systemic causes like unequal school funding or neighborhood resources.
Taxpayers and federal budget priorities — drawing attention to large-scale adult-skill needs may increase demand for federally funded education programs and thereby raise federal spending without specifying offsets.
Immigrant communities — highlighting language or literacy deficits among immigrants could be used politically to justify restrictive immigration or assimilation policies instead of expanding supportive services.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Makes official findings about widespread adult literacy, numeracy, digital, and English-language skill shortfalls and highlights National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week.
Declares widespread shortfalls in adult literacy, numeracy, digital, and English-language skills across the United States, citing recent PIAAC and American Community Survey data showing tens of millions of adults lacking basic skills or a high school credential. Emphasizes that these skill gaps harm economic opportunity, family and child education outcomes, public health and safety for older adults, workforce participation, recidivism reduction, immigrant integration, and national competitiveness, and notes that National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week highlights the need to address them.
Introduced September 17, 2025 by John F. Reed · Last progress September 17, 2025