For the past 18 years, Federal policy for adult literacy has been contained principally in the Adult Education Act of 1966 and in the administration of the program it supports. When this Act was passed, few programs for adult literacy existed in the states; thus, the Act authorized 90 percent Federal funding in order to encourage states to develop adult literacy education programs. At the same time, however, the legislation clearly required states to bear the responsibility for the education of all adults. The 1978 Amendments to the Adult Education Act contained some significant new policies. These Amendments required that services to adults be expanded throughout the public and private sector, instead of relying so heavily on the public schools as such programs had done previously. The Act is expected to be reauthorized as it stands. The Reagan Administration created the Adult Literacy Initiative in September 1983, putting a national priority on a minimal education level for all adults. The Adult Literacy Initiative promotes decentralized and pluralistic approaches to expanding literacy services, while the Adult Education Act has supported centralized state planning. Tensions raised by these two approaches will have to be resolved. For the future, it is recommended that a new national organization be generated to support adult learning generally and adult literacy and basic skills specifically. This organization should be sustained by private sector resources and remain responsive to adult learning needs in an information society. (KC)