Lateefah Simon: “The National Literacy Act--by the most conservative estimates, we have 23 million adult Americans who cannot read a…”

“The National Literacy Act--by the most conservative estimates, we have 23 million adult Americans who cannot read a newspaper or who cannot fill out a job application form. This is a massive drag on our economy. We have to make our people more productive. Among other things, those adult Americans who have literacy deficiencies are not able to help their kids in school. So, when I see that we are going to consolidate some of these things, I get concerned. Then the Job Corps has been--are there problems? You bet. We are dealing with marginal young people. Almost 80 percent have dropped out of school. To just say to States, ``You go ahead and run Job Corps, if you want to,'' I do not think makes sense. Senator Specter and I will have an amendment this afternoon to keep the Job Corps and to make some improvements in terms of requirements on use of drugs or alcohol and some other things that I think are important. But 73 percent of the Job Corps alumni--these, again, are kids who are marginal--73 percent end up either getting a job or going on to college or to a vocational school. So I view this legislation, Madam President, with mixed feelings.”