Floor Statements

Madam President, I am pleased to join Senator Collins and Senators Van Hollen, Cortez Masto, and Klobuchar in introducing legislation that would permanently reauthorize the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Council or USICH.

The Council was established during the Reagan administration as part of the landmark McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987. Over the last three and a half decades, it has brought Agencies from across the Federal Government together to coordinate efforts to address homelessness. In 2009, the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing, HEARTH, Act, which I authored along with Senator Collins, expanded the Council's role, allowing it to work with public, nonprofit and private stakeholders to develop a national strategic plan to end homelessness. With a small budget and a small staff, the Council has helped guide Federal, State, and local stakeholders in deploying their resources in a smart, effective and coordinated fashion. The results have been evident. In the decade after USICH published its first plan, overall homelessness declined 9 percent. Family and veterans homelessness declined significantly, as well, with the total numbers dropping nearly 30 percent and 50 percent, respectively. In fact, the Council has been able to help 83 communities and three States effectively end veteran homelessness.

Even with this progress, homelessness has persisted, and we have faced a growing challenge in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Housing and Urban Development's 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress found that, on ``a single night in 2022, roughly 582,500 people were experiencing homelessness in the United States,'' while the majority of individuals experiencing homelessness were living on the street or in other unsheltered locations and were not in homeless shelters. The COVID-19 pandemic and its accompanying economic effects have also pushed homelessness rates higher in many parts of the country. Indeed, the number of individuals experiencing homelessness increased in the majority of States between January 2020, and 2022, including a staggering 48 percent jump in my home State of Rhode Island.

USICH can help us meet this challenge by guiding how its 19 Federal member Agencies deploy and leverage their resources with nonfederal partners in order to help communities effectively address homelessness. We know that smart, coordinated investments in programs that address homelessness and increase affordable housing pay additional dividends. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, ``Based on 22 different studies from across the country, providing permanent supportive housing to chronically homeless people creates net savings of $4,800 per person per year, through reduced spending on jails, hospitals, shelters, and other emergency services.'' In short, helping people avoid homelessness not only helps them, it can also save taxpayers money, and USICH helps make our investments to address homelessness more informed and more effective.

Indeed, the Council continues to prove that the government can work and save money in the process. That is why we should permanently authorize USICH and why organizations like the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness, and HousingWorks RI have supported our bill. I urge our colleagues to join us in supporting this legislation.

Madam President, I am joined by Senators Brown, Warren, Van Hollen, Booker, Whitehouse, Baldwin, Padilla, and Merkley in reintroducing the Respect for Workers Act, a bill that would ensure that at least one Federal Reserve Governor has demonstrated primary experience in supporting or protecting the rights of workers.

Today, the Federal Reserve is attempting to curb inflation without plunging the economy into a recession. Over the past year, it has increased the Federal funds rate by 4\1/2\ percentage points to cool the economy and ease prices--its fastest pace of rate hikes since the early 1980s. But this is a difficult balancing act. If the Federal Reserve does not get its policies right, it may fail to defeat inflation or drive us into a recession. Workers would bear the brunt of the economic fallout attached to either outcome through higher prices or higher unemployment.

Arguably no group is more affected by the Federal Reserves efforts to meet its dual mandate to promote stable prices and maximum employment than workers. But, while the law requires the Federal Reserve Board of Governors to represent diverse geographic regions and a wide array of commercial interests, no Federal Reserve Governor is required to have a background in protecting the interests of workers. Indeed, while the interests of Wall Street, nonbank financial institutions, and big business have long been well-represented on the Board, everyday working men and women have not been given the same voice in monetary policymaking.

Our bill fills this hole by requiring at least one Federal Reserve Governor has experience addressing the challenges facing workers. This is not a new concept. In fact, our bill is modeled on the 2015 law that requires at least one of the seven Federal Reserve Governors to be an individual ``with demonstrated primary experience working in or supervising community banks.''

In short, the Respect for Workers Act would ensure workers' economic needs are represented at the Federal Reserve. It would build a stronger, more representative Board of Governors and promote a healthier economy.

I thank the AFL-CIO, Groundwork Collaborative, National Employment Law Project, MIT Professor and Former International Monetary Fund Chief Economist Simon Johnson, and Georgetown Law Professor Adam Levitin for their support and urge our colleagues to join in pushing to enact this legislation.

Madam President, I am joined by Senators Brown, Warren, Van Hollen, Booker, Whitehouse, Baldwin, Padilla, and Merkley in reintroducing the Respect for Workers Act, a bill that would ensure that at least one Federal Reserve Governor has demonstrated primary experience in supporting or protecting the rights of workers.

Today, the Federal Reserve is attempting to curb inflation without plunging the economy into a recession. Over the past year, it has increased the Federal funds rate by 4\1/2\ percentage points to cool the economy and ease prices--its fastest pace of rate hikes since the early 1980s. But this is a difficult balancing act. If the Federal Reserve does not get its policies right, it may fail to defeat inflation or drive us into a recession. Workers would bear the brunt of the economic fallout attached to either outcome through higher prices or higher unemployment.

Arguably no group is more affected by the Federal Reserves efforts to meet its dual mandate to promote stable prices and maximum employment than workers. But, while the law requires the Federal Reserve Board of Governors to represent diverse geographic regions and a wide array of commercial interests, no Federal Reserve Governor is required to have a background in protecting the interests of workers. Indeed, while the interests of Wall Street, nonbank financial institutions, and big business have long been well-represented on the Board, everyday working men and women have not been given the same voice in monetary policymaking.

Our bill fills this hole by requiring at least one Federal Reserve Governor has experience addressing the challenges facing workers. This is not a new concept. In fact, our bill is modeled on the 2015 law that requires at least one of the seven Federal Reserve Governors to be an individual ``with demonstrated primary experience working in or supervising community banks.''

In short, the Respect for Workers Act would ensure workers' economic needs are represented at the Federal Reserve. It would build a stronger, more representative Board of Governors and promote a healthier economy.

I thank the AFL-CIO, Groundwork Collaborative, National Employment Law Project, MIT Professor and Former International Monetary Fund Chief Economist Simon Johnson, and Georgetown Law Professor Adam Levitin for their support and urge our colleagues to join in pushing to enact this legislation.

Mr. President, for the Committee on Armed Services I report favorably the following nomination lists which were printed in the Records on the dates indicated, and ask unanimous consent, to save the expense of reprinting on the Executive Calendar that these nominations lie at the Secretary's desk for the information of Senators.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that following the 11 a.m. vote today, the Senate recess until 1 p.m.

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I rise today with my colleague Senator Whitehouse to pay tribute to a legendary police officer, Vincent Vespia, Jr., whose distinguished career in Rhode Island law enforcement spanned 57 years, from a young State trooper, to a top organized crime investigator, to chief of police.

Vin passed away suddenly on January 24, 2023, at the age of 84, and we wanted to take a moment to honor this great hero--a police officer who was so beloved and respected by all, who practiced and taught the art of community policing, and who truly made a positive difference in the lives of countless Rhode Islanders.

Vin was a dear friend, and I will always remember with great fondness the time we spent together, especially when he came down to Washington

with his fellow chiefs of police. I deeply admired the chief, not just as a police officer but as a person with wisdom like no other.

In 2012, Chief Vespia, who was still actively serving as South Kingstown's police chief, was honored as the first-ever inductee into the Rhode Island Criminal Justice Hall of Fame.

At that time, he was well known for fearlessly pursuing investigations into organized crime and corruption and had already served 30 years as the chief of the South Kingstown Police Department. And he continued in that role for another 4 years.

Vin's courage and integrity made him, quite deservedly, one of the most respected and revered members of the State's not only law enforcement community but of the State overall.

As Stephen Pare, the former commissioner for public safety for the city of Providence put it, Vespia was ``relentless and honest, and as strong as you can be as a police officer.'' He described him as a ``no- nonsense chief'' who was comfortable talking with anyone on the force. ``He commanded respect because he gave respect,'' Pare said.

And that is an apt description and high praise, indeed, but well deserved.

Vincent Vespia grew up on Federal Hill and then the East Side of Providence. He served in the Army for 2 years and worked at the then ``new'' Bostitch factory in East Greenwich before finding his true calling in law enforcement.

Beginning as a motorcycle trooper in 1959, he served in the elite Rhode Island State Police for two decades before becoming chief of police of South Kingstown.

During his 21 years with the Rhode Island State Police Intelligence Unit, he focused on combating organized crime. Throughout the 1960s and seventies, Vin Vespia helped coordinate State and local efforts to successfully track, disrupt, and dismantle organized crime.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Mike Stanton chronicled some of those stories noting that, in his words:

Vespia grew up playing in the street with some of the wise

guys he would later pursue as a cop.

Stanton tells the story of how, as a young trooper, Vespia arrested a former playmate from his old neighborhood with a truckload of stolen furs. Recognizing his childhood friend, the perpetrator asked Vespia:

How can you arrest me? We played kick the can together.

Vespia replied:

You went one way, I went another.

Indeed, he took the high road in everything he did.

In one of his most notable cases, Vin Vespia worked for years to gain the trust of a known hit man in order to collect evidence leading to the arrest and prosecution of notorious organized crime leader Raymond Patriarca, the head of organized crime in New England.

In addition to being an outstanding police officer, Vin Vespia was an incredible mentor. He taught generations of law enforcement officers the finer points of police work and leadership.

Toward the end of his career, a local television station asked the chief about his legacy, and he replied:

Forget about what I've done, what my rank was, where I've

worked, and the cases I've made . . . forget about all that .

. . if somebody would remember me as . . . a guy who tried to

be a good cop, [then] I'm happy.

Mr. President, Vin Vespia was not only a guy who tried to be a good cop, he was a great cop.

And when he finally hung up holster and badge, the Providence Journal proclaimed:

Hail to the chief: Vincent Vespia, Jr., ``most admired law

enforcement officer'' in R.I., retires after 35 years as

town's top cop.

Along with Senator Whitehouse, I want to express our condolences and gratitude to Chief Vespia's beloved wife and partner Judy. A police officer's family makes sacrifices so that their loved one may serve, and that is certainly true for Vin's beloved family.

And I want to recognize his children, including Renee Caouette and her husband Ron, Robin Vespia, and the late Rhonda Vespia.

Chief Vespia was also a doting and devoted grandfather to his grandchildren: Dylan, Tyler, Dante, and the late Chad O'Brien.

And I also salute his dear brothers, Jay and the late Robert Vespia.

And now, I yield to someone who worked closely with Chief Vespia in a variety of capacities--as the attorney general of the State of Rhode Island, as a Federal attorney for the District of Rhode Island, as one of the most successful, effective attorneys and Federal officers, as well as State officers, in the history of our State--my colleague Senator Whitehouse.

With that, I yield to Senator Whitehouse.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for the following to be printed in the Record.

Madam President, I have 15 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders.

Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

Mr. President, I stand in opposition to the proposed amendment.

On August 24, 2021, the Secretary of Defense issued a legal order directive that all personnel in the U.S. forces should be vaccinated against COVID-19. At that point, it was an approved FDA pharmaceutical. It is a legally binding order.

We need a healthy and ready force to defend the United States, and I think we've forgotten where we were before the vaccine. For example, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, one of the most important aircraft carriers in our fleet, and particularly in the Pacific, was effectively put out of commission when 27 percent of her crew were infected with COVID. Hundreds were hospitalized. The carrier had to dock in Guam for 2 months. For 2 months, we did not have the striking power of an American aircraft carrier in the Pacific.

Since Secretary Austin's mandate, we have had no repeat incidents where a naval vessel had to be, essentially, taken out of service, nor in the other services have we seen anything like that.

Mandatory vaccination is not a new issue for military personnel. Servicemembers are commonly required to get

17 different vaccinations when they enter the military or when they deploy to serve overseas areas, including measles, mumps, diphtheria, hepatitis, smallpox, and flu.

In fact, the first mandatory vaccination was ordered by General George Washington for the smallpox during the American Revolution.

The Department of Defense issued the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. It was a lawful order. The department made its expectations very clear, a personnel could take the vaccine or they could request an exemption, but if their exemption was denied and they still refused the shot, they would be discharged.

In the U.S. military, a lawful order is not a suggestion; it is a command. And for those of us who have the privilege of commanding American military personnel, that is the essence of order and discipline in the U.S. military, which distinguishes us from many other services throughout the world.

Ninety percent of our troops are vaccinated because they are putting their Nation, their fellow soldiers, and their families ahead of their personal opinions or personal desires. That is the function of the military, this unswerving dedication to Nation and to following and to protecting their fellow personnel.

What message do we send if we pass this bill? It is a very dangerous one. What we are telling soldiers is: If you disagree, don't follow the order. And then just lobby Congress. And they will come along, and they will restore your rank. They will restore your benefits. They will restore everything. So orders are just sort of a suggestion. They are not.

Let me conclude by this: This is a critical line in the U.S. oath of enlistment.

I will obey the orders of the President of the United

States and the orders of the officers appointed over me.

That is what we are talking about tonight. We must reject this amendment to reaffirm that oath, that commitment, that pillar of American military discipline and order.

Mr. President, I have a much longer statement, but I want to briefly rise to express my support for the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. I am pleased that we are about to pass it.

First, let me acknowledge Ranking Member Inhofe, whose leadership on the Armed Services Committee and in this Chamber has been monumental.

For more than 20 years I have had the privilege of serving with him on the committee. In turn, we have been chairman and ranking member. And I am honored that this year's bill will be named the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act.

(Applause, Senators rising.)

Mr. President, I would also like to add my congratulations and thanks to the House Armed Services Chairman,

Adam Smith, and Ranking Member Mike Rogers. Their partnership was absolutely invaluable to make this moment possible.

Mr. President, I yield back all time.

Vote on Motion to Concur

Mr. President, I rise to express my support for the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. I am pleased that we have just voted on a wide, bipartisan basis to approve this bill.

First, I would like to acknowledge Ranking Member Inhofe, whose leadership on the Armed Services Committee and in this Chamber has been monumental. For more than 20 years, I have had the privilege to serve with him on the Armed Services Committee, in turn each of us serving as chairman and ranking member. In honor of his well-earned retirement, I am pleased that the committee voted to name this year's bill the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act.

I would also thank my colleagues from the House Armed Services Committee, Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Rogers. Their partnership made this bill possible.

As we enact the NDAA, we must keep in mind that the United States is engaged in a long-term strategic competition with China. Beijing poses a serious potential threat to our national security, as the only country in the world capable of mounting a sustained challenge to our interests.

In addition, Russia has demonstrated its willingness to inflict violence and undermine the global order while states like Iran and North Korea continue to push the boundaries of military brinkmanship. Threats like terrorism, climate change, and pandemics remain persistent.

The interconnected nature of these problems must drive how we transform our tools of national power. The passage of the FY23 NDAA will be a critical step toward meeting these complex challenges.

Turning to the specifics of this year's defense bill. The NDAA authorizes $817 billion for the Department of Defense and $29 billion for national security programs within the Department of Energy. This includes a $45 billion boost to address inflation, accelerate the production of certain munitions, and increase procurement of aircraft, ships, submarines, armored vehicles, long-range artillery, and other resources needed by the services and combatant commands.

The bill contains a number of important provisions that I would like to briefly highlight.

To begin, we have to ensure the United States can out-compete, deter, and prevail against our near-peer rivals. This NDAA confronts China and Russia by increasing our investments in the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, the European Deterrence Initiative, and the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. It also authorizes the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act of 2022, which is designed to increase our security cooperation with Taiwan.

Importantly, this year's NDAA provides a 4.6-percent pay raise for both military servicemembers and the Department of Defense civilian workforce. It also authorizes funding to ease the impacts of inflation on the force and increases the resources available to support military families.

The bill includes new support for our industrial base to produce the munitions needed to backfill our stocks, while also keeping supplies flowing to Ukraine and other European allies. Moreover, the bill authorizes $1 billion for the National Defense Stockpile to acquire rare earths and critical minerals needed to help meet the defense, industrial, and civilian needs of the United States.

America's capacity for technological innovation has long given us the strongest economy and military on earth, but this advantage is not a given; it must be nurtured and maintained. To that end, this year's NDAA authorizes significant funding increases for cutting-edge technologies like microelectronics, hypersonic weapons, and low-cost unmanned aircraft. Similarly, it increases funding to support U.S. Cyber Command's Hunt Forward Operations and artificial intelligence capabilities.

And, as we navigate threats of nuclear escalation from Russia and increasing capabilities from China, the NDAA enhances our deterrence strategy by helping to modernize the U.S. nuclear triad. It makes progress toward ensuring the security of our nuclear stockpile, delivery systems, and infrastructure; increasing capacity in missile defense; and strengthening nonproliferation programs.

This bill was originally crafted by the Armed Services Committee after a series of thoughtful hearings, discussions, and debates on both sides of the aisle. Through the committee markup process, we considered more than 443 amendments and ultimately adopted 233 of them. Senator Inhofe and I introduced this bill to the full Senate with the intent of adding more amendments on the floor. Although we were not able to come to hold debate on the floor, we were ultimately able to adopt amendments from Senators on both sides of the aisle in the final legislation, including several major authorization bills from other committees.

Over the past several weeks, the Senate and House Armed Services Committees have worked around the clock to come to an agreement on this final version. I am proud of the improvements we made throughout this process, and I was pleased to see the House vote last week in an overwhelmingly bipartisan fashion, 350-80, to pass the bill. We have produced a strong NDAA that both parties, both Chambers, and the President will be able to sign.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the phenomenal staff who made this bill possible. There are dozens of staff across the committees and floor who worked tirelessly to bring us to this point, and we are all immensely grateful for their dedication. I will submit each of their names for the record. I want to specifically recognize the director for the Armed Services Democratic staff, Elizabeth King, and the director for the Republican staff, John Wason. They have led their staffs admirably and collaborated with bipartisanship, diligence, and skill.

I would also like to thank members of the Armed Services Committee staff: Jody Bennett, Carolyn Chuhta, Jon Clark, Jenny Davis, Jonathan Epstein, Jorie Feldman, Kevin Gates, Creighton Greene, Gary Leeling, Kirk McConnell, Maggie McNamara Cooper, Bill Monahan, Mike Noblet, John Quirk, Andy Scott, Cole Stevens, Brittany Amador, Patrick Shilo, Alison Warner, Leah Brewer, Megan Lustig, Joe Gallo, Chad Johnson, Jessica Lewis, Griffin Cannon, Brandon Kasprick, Sofia Kamali, Vannary Kong, and, once again, staff director Elizabeth King.

Let me conclude by once again thanking Ranking Member Inhofe, Chairman Smith, and Ranking Member Rogers for working thoughtfully and on a bipartisan basis to develop this important piece of legislation.

Finally, I thank my colleagues for voting in favor of this excellent bill.

Mr. President, for the Committee on Armed Services I report favorably the following nomination lists which were printed in the RECORDS on the dates indicated, and ask unanimous consent, to save the expense of reprinting on the Executive Calendar that these nominations lie at the Secretary's desk for the information of Senators.

Mr. President, I rise to discuss the nomination of Musetta Tia Johnson, who is nominated to be a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, the senior appellate court for the military, with exclusive jurisdiction over the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Ms. Johnson was favorably reported out of the committee on April 5, 2022, and has been pending on the Senate calendar ever since. I am unaware of any objection to her nomination with respect to her qualifications to be a judge on this appellate court.

When confirmed, Miss Johnson will be one of five judges on the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, often referred to as the supreme court of military law. This court, which is composed of civilian appellate judges, has been operating without its full quota of confirmed judges for this entire judicial session, where it considered important jurisdictional and substantive military criminal law issues.

Importantly, the fiscal year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act implemented extensive changes to the UCMJ, including a statute that would criminalize sexual harassment under some circumstances. Ms. Johnson will play a critical role on the court of appeals in reviewing challenges and issues with the recent sexual assault and sexual harassment statutes, including defendants' rights under the UCMJ. Without Ms. Johnson, the court risks deadlock, which will further hamper the military's ability to maintain good order and discipline.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate consider the following nomination: Calendar No. 861, Musetta Tia Johnson to be a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces for a term of 15 years; that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate; and that, if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Retaining my time, Mr. President, I disagree, obviously, with the Senator from Missouri.

The Senate Armed Services Committee has had extensive oversight on Afghanistan. The committee actions include seven public and closed hearings regarding the Afghan war, lessons learned, and ongoing regional counterterrorism requirements since the withdrawal last August. Senator Hawley had the opportunity to participate in each of these hearings.

The fiscal year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act contained a provision that mandated that the Department of Defense deliver quarterly briefings in both unclassified and classified form on the security situation in Afghanistan and ongoing counterterrorism efforts. The classified briefings have taken place on January 20, April 14, and July 21. The unclassified briefings have taken place on February 14 and April 25. Most recently, on October 19, the committee held unclassified and classified briefings, and Senator Hawley has full access to these briefings.

The fiscal year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act also contained a provision, section 1069, which requires the yearly assessment of our ``over the horizon'' counter-terrorism capabilities in Afghanistan. The committee has received the first installment, and this, too, is accessible to all members of the committee.

The fiscal year 2022 NDAA further mandated the establishment of the Afghanistan War Commission, which will spend several years examining all aspects of the 20-year war in depth. Let me emphasize--the 20-year war in depth. All the Commissioners have been appointed. We expect the Commission to commence work in the near term.

I note that Senator Hawley indicated that beginning in 2020 there were reports that military leaders were warning of possible complications. That was during the term of President Trump.

I think also one of the issues that has to be looked at is the release of 5,000 Taliban fighters at the direction of President Trump and over the objections of the Afghan Government. Were they at Abbey Gate? Were they the leading forces who were moving in and surrounding Kabul?

This situation requires a long, detailed study. To focus on one event will create headlines but not information or knowledge that we can bring forward. The factors contributing to Abbey Gate were long in the making, and unless we look at those factors over time, unless we look at the whole operation, I don't think we are going to get the kinds of insights we need.

So I respectfully disagree with Senator Hawley's objection, and I hope we can find a way to confirm Ms. Johnson.

With that, I yield the floor.

Mr. President, we have a longstanding adult literacy crisis that affects the quality of life for individuals and families and holds our economy back. It is time for a major expansion of adult education. Today, I am proud to introduce bipartisan legislation--the Adult Education Workforce Opportunity and Reskilling for Knowledge and Success Act, or the Adult Education WORKS Act--with my colleague Senator Young.

Adult education provides numeracy, literacy, digital literacy, English language skills, work readiness, soft skills, high school equivalency, and numerous wraparound services to millions of adult learners nationwide--all essential skills. They can be the difference between earning a family-sustaining wage and struggling to make ends meet. A study commissioned by the Barbara Bush Foundation estimated that getting all U.S. adults to the equivalent of a sixth grade reading level would generate an additional $2.2 trillion in annual income for the country. Without the opportunities provided through adult education programs, many adults will be left on the sidelines.

According to recent National Center for Education Statistics, NCES, data, 43 million adults are low-skilled in literacy and 62.7 million adults are low-skilled in numeracy. Building a sustainable economy that truly works for everyone is going to require helping these individuals acquire the basic skills they need to succeed. Unfortunately, we are reaching only a fraction of these individuals today. According to the Department of Education, at current funding levels, adult education programs only serve about 1.1 million people, and an estimated one- third of local adult education providers have waiting lists.

The Adult Education WORKS Act provides a roadmap for addressing this crisis. It calls for increased resources, doubling funding for adult education by 2026. At the same time, it makes significant improvements to the adult education system. It calls for a new emphasis on digital and information literacy, which are critical for success in the workplace and in navigating everyday life. It enhances the role of adult education providers, with a special focus on public libraries and community-based organizations, throughout the workforce development system, ensuring coordination and efficient use of resources. It invests in the professionalization of the adult education field, strengthening State certification policies, encouraging full-time staffing models, and expanding professional development opportunities and career pathways for adult educators. It provides support for college and career navigators in public libraries and community-based organizations to support adult learners where they live. Finally, it invests in innovation and accountability through pilot projects that test new approaches to measuring program performance and learner outcomes.

In developing this legislation, Senator Young and I worked closely with key stakeholders working on the frontlines in the adult education community. I am pleased to count the American Library Association, the Center for Law and Social Policy, the Coalition on Adult Basic Education, the National Coalition for Literacy, ProLiteracy, and TESOL among the supporters of this legislation.

I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this legislation and work with us to ensure it is part of any legislation to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

Mr. President, we have a longstanding adult literacy crisis that affects the quality of life for individuals and families and holds our economy back. It is time for a major expansion of adult education. Today, I am proud to introduce bipartisan legislation--the Adult Education Workforce Opportunity and Reskilling for Knowledge and Success Act, or the Adult Education WORKS Act--with my colleague Senator Young.

Adult education provides numeracy, literacy, digital literacy, English language skills, work readiness, soft skills, high school equivalency, and numerous wraparound services to millions of adult learners nationwide--all essential skills. They can be the difference between earning a family-sustaining wage and struggling to make ends meet. A study commissioned by the Barbara Bush Foundation estimated that getting all U.S. adults to the equivalent of a sixth grade reading level would generate an additional $2.2 trillion in annual income for the country. Without the opportunities provided through adult education programs, many adults will be left on the sidelines.

According to recent National Center for Education Statistics, NCES, data, 43 million adults are low-skilled in literacy and 62.7 million adults are low-skilled in numeracy. Building a sustainable economy that truly works for everyone is going to require helping these individuals acquire the basic skills they need to succeed. Unfortunately, we are reaching only a fraction of these individuals today. According to the Department of Education, at current funding levels, adult education programs only serve about 1.1 million people, and an estimated one- third of local adult education providers have waiting lists.

The Adult Education WORKS Act provides a roadmap for addressing this crisis. It calls for increased resources, doubling funding for adult education by 2026. At the same time, it makes significant improvements to the adult education system. It calls for a new emphasis on digital and information literacy, which are critical for success in the workplace and in navigating everyday life. It enhances the role of adult education providers, with a special focus on public libraries and community-based organizations, throughout the workforce development system, ensuring coordination and efficient use of resources. It invests in the professionalization of the adult education field, strengthening State certification policies, encouraging full-time staffing models, and expanding professional development opportunities and career pathways for adult educators. It provides support for college and career navigators in public libraries and community-based organizations to support adult learners where they live. Finally, it invests in innovation and accountability through pilot projects that test new approaches to measuring program performance and learner outcomes.

In developing this legislation, Senator Young and I worked closely with key stakeholders working on the frontlines in the adult education community. I am pleased to count the American Library Association, the Center for Law and Social Policy, the Coalition on Adult Basic Education, the National Coalition for Literacy, ProLiteracy, and TESOL among the supporters of this legislation.

I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this legislation and work with us to ensure it is part of any legislation to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.