This document contains transcripts of testimony and written materials presented by four persons at a Congressional hearing on illiteracy. Testimony was given by Gerald L. Baliles, Governor of Virginia; James E. Duffy, vice president, Capital Cities/ABC; Karl O. Haigler, director of the Adult Literacy Initiative, U.S. Department of Education; and Patricia Keeton, coordinator, Basic Skills and Foreign-Born Programs, Howard Community College, Maryland. In his testimony and written report, Governor Baliles commented that many people who are illiterate turn to a life of crime. He reported that since many of the prisoners in the Virginia system are illiterate, the state has begun a program of "no read, no release" to teach prisoners to read before they are sent back into society. In his testimony, Duffy reported on the experience of ABC and the Public Broadcasting Service in Project Literacy U.S. (PLUS), which spotlights the problem of illiteracy; broadcasters work through their stations to reach adult illiterates and help them find educational programs to meet their needs. Haigler defended the budget needs of U.S. literacy efforts and said that financial support is crucial to help adults to read. Finally, Keeton testified that more must be done to fight illiteracy and that it is unproductive to publicize the problem while cutting funds for adult education. A discussion among committee members and participants is also included in the hearing proceedings. (KC)