To declare it to be the policy of the United States that there should be a renewed and sustained commitment by the Federal Government and the American people to the importance of adult education.
Public Law 102-74 · H.J.Res. 279 · 102nd Congress · began in the House
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Jul 26, 1991 · Education
Sponsor: Rep. Earl Coleman (R-MO-6)
Cosponsors (3): Rep. William Ford, Rep. William Goodling,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Declares it to be the policy of the United States that: (1) the 25th anniversary of Federal aid to improve the basic and literacy skills of adults through the Adult Education Act (AEA) should be recognized and observed; and (2) there should be a continued commitment to Federal aid for educating adults through AEA to increase adult literacy and assure a productive work force and a competitive United States in the 21st century.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 10 actions.
- Jul 26, 1991Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-74.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Jul 22, 1991PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Jul 11, 1991FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Voice Vote.
- Jul 9, 1991FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Kildee moved to suspend the rules and pass the resolution.
- Jun 25, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Education and Workforce Committee
- Jun 20, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Education and Workforce Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.