[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 157 (Wednesday, October 11, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S14961]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          JOB CORPS AMENDMENTS

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, this afternoon we are going to be 
discussing some of the amendments to the current Job Corps Program. One 
of those amendments will be offered by Senators Specter and Simon in a 
bipartisan fashion.
  There is something that is unique about this program. I have had some 
personal experiences with the Job Corps Program formerly as mayor of 
the city of Tulsa. We were able to use the participants of this program 
in doing massive public works within our city. Somehow none of this 
ever shows up to the credit of the Job Corps Program.
  While I am the strongest supporter of virtually every element of the 
Contract With America, I do believe that there are some areas where we 
should give serious consideration to allowing a program to exist where 
it can breathe more freely across State lines, and this just might be 
the case as opposed to sending it in block grants back to the States.
  The construction industry is an industry that, First, is cyclical 
and, second, varies from State to State. One of the problems that 
exists right now in the construction industry is that it is very 
difficult to find young people who will go into the construction 
industry, into carpentry, into masonry, some of these areas where 
perhaps the future does not look as glamorous as it would in some type 
of highly skilled or high-technology position. As a result of that, 
many people do not choose this except when there is a building boom 
going on.
  One of the problems we have is that nationwide we could have a 
building boom in Pennsylvania and there could be a slump in Oklahoma. 
By the time you gear up to the boom in Pennsylvania, it could be in a 
slump again. Consequently, it has worked quite well to have these 
programs in a national scope where they do provide for a ready supply 
of skilled labor jobs, carpentry jobs, masonry jobs, and jobs that are 
critical to the building industry.
  It is my understanding that the Specter-Simon amendment will not be 
scored, and if that is the case I would urge some of my conservative 
colleagues to give serious consideration to supporting the Specter-
Simon amendment.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that further 
proceedings under the quorum call be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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