The House Adult Literacy Caucus endeavors to spotlight the adult literacy issue and advocate for local, national, and global adult literacy initiatives. Its mission is to underscore the connections between adult literacy and critical national priorities such as economic prosperity and public health.
Congressman Roe expressed optimism about the caucus’s potential impact: “As we continue to strive to revive our nation’s economy, the importance of educating and training adults who have been out of school for years will become increasingly significant to meet evolving workforce demands. I am hopeful that through the Adult Literacy Caucus, we will be able to amplify the voices in Congress of those who require additional assistance and education.”
The Challenge
For millions of adults across the country, enhancing basic literacy skills is fundamental to achieving a promising and prosperous future. Literacy serves as a catalyst for transformation, breaking the cycle of illiteracy, poverty, and social inequity.
According to the PIAAC report titled “Time for US to Reskill?,” 36 million US adults possess low skills; with 1 in 6 US adults having low literacy skills and 1 in 3 possessing low numeracy skills. Many individuals affected by this struggle with poverty, lack a high school diploma, and face challenges in securing and retaining employment that provides a livable wage. Moreover, children of parents with lower literacy levels start their educational journey at a disadvantage, perpetuating inequality throughout their schooling and beyond.
Nearly half of the adults in the United States experience difficulty comprehending and utilizing health information, hindering their ability to make informed health decisions and resulting in higher healthcare costs.