[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 104 (Tuesday, August 2, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 2, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1110
 
                       THE 1994 REEMPLOYMENT ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Deutsch). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of February 11, 1994, and June 10, 1994, the gentlewoman from 
Connecticut [Ms. DeLauro] is recognized during morning business for 2 
minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address a lingering fear 
that taints our economic recovery. That fear--one I hear every week in 
my district--is that goods jobs are not out there for this country's 
working people. They read about the recovery, but they do not see it.
  We are here today to urge passage of a bill that provides the 
critical ink between those who lost their jobs during the recent 
recession and the jobs being created by new economic growth. Right now, 
our workers are struck with an archaic, outmoded unemployment system. A 
patchwork of services that lack coordination and fail to provide needed 
education and training.
  This system does not serve our workers, it does not serve our 
businesses and it does not serve our economic interests.
  I urge my colleagues to consider this fact. More than 75 percent of 
the workers who lost their jobs last year did not expect to be recalled 
to their old jobs. If we are going to compete in the world economy, we 
had better focus on training and begin to treat our workers like the 
tremendous assets they are. We depend on them to provide the world-
class levels of skill and productivity necessary to make the high tech 
products and provide the high technology services of tomorrow. In a 
rapidly changing economy, they cannot continue to do that without our 
help.
  The Reemployment Act of 1994 will create a new employment system, 
with one-stop shopping for people who have lost their jobs--one stop to 
provide labor market information, training programs, job counseling and 
information on benefits.
  Finally, working men and women will have a system that is concerned 
with helping them do what they want to do most--get back to work. It 
will help to trim bureaucracy, cut redtape and most importantly, 
improve job training.
  I am proud of this bill, of what it does for working people, and of 
the people who are supporting it. Many people already recognized the 
importance--the need--the necessity--of this measure. There are more 
than 100 cosponsors in the House; it has been reported out of the Ways 
and Means Committee without opposition; and it is backed by a broad 
range of businesses and business groups.
  I urge my colleagues to help businesses, boost the economy, and give 
U.S. workers a fighting chance. Support the Reemployment Act.

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