Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) today introduced his Ready to Compete Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. The act would reauthorize CPB’s ongoing Ready to Learn educational initiative geared toward improving math and literacy skills for 2- to 8-year-olds in low-income communities, while also allowing for the possibility to expand into assisting 9- to 13-year-olds if funding allows.
A second provision in the act would support a new adult-education program, Ready to Earn, providing funding for CPB to use on-air and online education and training materials for adults.
The act is similar to two earlier acts Yarmuth has introduced, in 2010 and 2011, each also titled Ready to Compete and each also reauthorizing Ready to Learn and proposing Ready to Earn. Neither of those bills made it through committee.
The Association of Public Television Stations commended Yarmuth in a statement. APTS President Pat Butler said the act was “an important legislative initiative that will match the enormous educational resources of public television with the enormous challenge of creating a more competitive American workforce to succeed in the global economy.”