Strengthen and Unite Communities with Civics Education and English Skills Act of 2009
Latest action · Jul 17, 2009 Referred to House Ways and Means
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedJul 17, 2009
- Passed HouseNot reached
- Passed SenateNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Strengthen and Unite Communities with Civics Education and English Skills Act of 2009 - Amends the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (the Act) to allow state leadership activities grants to be used to provide technical assistance to faith and community-based organizations desiring grants under the Act.
Directs the National Institute for Literacy to: (1) disseminate information regarding integrated English literacy, U.S. history, and civics education programs; and (2) study the effectiveness of distance learning or self-study programs for English language learners. Makes integrated English literacy, U.S. history, and civics education programs eligible for assistance under the Secretary of Education's national leadership activities program.
Requires the Secretary to award grants to states for integrated English literacy, U.S. history, and civics education programs, with each state's grant amount tied to the size and growth of their recent immigrant population.
Amends the Act and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to replace references to individuals of limited English proficiency with references to English language learners.
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide: (1) tax credits to teachers of English language learners; (2) tax deductions for the expenses of becoming certified as such teachers; and (3) tax credits for employers' expenses in making adult education and literacy services available to their employees.
Requires the Commissioner for Education Research of the National Center for Education Research to establish a national research and development center for adult education and literacy, or include adult education if a center for adult literacy has already been established.
Establishes the Presidential Award for Business Leadership in Promoting United States Citizenship to be awarded to companies and other organizations that make extraordinary efforts in assisting their employees and members to learn English and increase their understanding of U.S. history and civics.
Renames the Office of Citizenship within U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of the Department of Homeland Security the Office of Citizenship and Immigrant Integration (the Office). Includes among its functions, furthering the integration of immigrants into this country. Permits the Office to accept donations in support of its activities.
Authorizes the Chief of the Office to provide grants to states to: (1) form State New American Councils to develop and implement comprehensive immigrant introduction plans and disseminate information pertaining to effective English acquisition and civics education programs; and (2) award subgrants, through such Councils, to local governments to assist them in integrating immigrants into communities pursuant to such plans.
Establishes a New Citizens Award program authorizing the President to present a medal to up to 10 new citizens per year who make an outstanding contribution to this country.
Cosponsors 21
Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Jul 17, 2009 to Jul 30, 2010; 1 is an original cosponsor, there from the day it was introduced.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-NY | Yvette D. Clarke | Original | Jul 17, 2009 |
| D-CA | Bob Filner | Jul 28, 2009 | |
| D-CA | Fortney Pete Stark | Jul 28, 2009 | |
| D-NY | Jose E. Serrano | Jul 28, 2009 | |
| D-GU | Madeleine Z. Bordallo | Jul 28, 2009 | |
| D-IL | Mike Quigley | Sep 8, 2009 | |
| D-HI | Neil Abercrombie | Sep 8, 2009 | |
| D-CO | Jared Polis | Sep 10, 2009 | |
| D-CA | Judy Chu | Dec 1, 2009 | |
| D-HI | Mazie K. Hirono | Dec 1, 2009 | |
| D-CA | Doris O. Matsui | Dec 8, 2009 | |
| D-MP | Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan | Jan 13, 2010 | |
| R-LA | Anh "Joseph" Cao | Jan 15, 2010 | |
| D-AZ | Raúl M. Grijalva | Jan 26, 2010 | |
| D-MN | Keith Ellison | Feb 3, 2010 | |
| D-TX | Al Green | Feb 25, 2010 | |
| D-CA | Barbara Lee | Feb 25, 2010 | |
| D-AS | Eni F. H. Faleomavaega | Feb 25, 2010 | |
| D-DC | Eleanor Holmes Norton | Jun 22, 2010 | |
| D-CA | Lucille Roybal-Allard | Jul 13, 2010 | |
| D-IL | Luis V. Gutierrez | Jul 30, 2010 |
Committees 2
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| House | Education and Workforce Committee | Referred Jul 17, 2009 |
| House | Ways and Means Committee | Referred Jul 17, 2009 |
Actions 4
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Jul 17, 2009Introduced in House
- Jul 17, 2009Referred to House Education and Labor
- Jul 17, 2009Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Jul 17, 2009Referred to House Ways and Means
In the Congressional Record 1
Days the Record’s own index lists this bill, newest first, with the pages and the members it names. Pages starting H are the House, S the Senate, E Extensions of Remarks.
| Where | In the Record | Members | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | Debate and remarks H10467 | Michael M. Honda D-CA | Oct 6, 2009 |
Related bills 1
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| S 1478 | Strengthen and Unite Communities with Civics Education and English Skills Act of 2009 | Related bill | Jul 21, 2009 |
Titles 2
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- To strengthen communities through English literacy and civics education for new Americans, and for other purposes.
- Short Titles as Introduced
- Strengthen and Unite Communities with Civics Education and English Skills Act of 2009
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Education.
- Adult education and literacy
- Citizenship and naturalization
- Commemorative events and holidays
- Department of Homeland Security
- Education
- Education programs funding
- Educational technology and distance education
- Elementary and secondary education
- Employee benefits and pensions
- Employment and training programs
- Executive agency funding and structure
- Financial literacy
- Government information and archives
- Immigrant health and welfare
- Income tax credits
- Income tax deductions
- Language arts
- Religion
- Research and development
- State and local government operations
- Teaching, teachers, curricula
- U.S. history
Text 1
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Jul 17, 2009Introduced in House
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.
