[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 74 (Tuesday, June 3, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H3247-H3248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         IN SUPPORT OF FULL FUNDING FOR SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to focus 
on the need to sustain, expand, and fully support our Nation's youth 
through the federally funded Summer Youth Employment Program.
  I am strongly committed to the Summer Youth Employment Program and 
would like to insure that it serves all of the needs for summer 
employment for our Nation's disadvantaged youth.
  Prior to my election to the U.S. House of Representatives, I worked 
to create an expanded Summer Youth Employment Program that would serve 
the entire city of Houston. That resulting effort continues to be 
successfully managed by Houston Works, a not-for-profit organization 
based in Houston, TX.
  I know from personal experience that a summer job for those young 
people enrolled into the Job Training Partnership Act's Summer Youth 
Employment Program sponsored projects around this country is more than 
just an opportunity to have money for the next school year, it is an 
opportunity to learn, live, and experience the work environment and 
culture.
  In 1997, Houston Works Summer Youth Program plans to serve 6,500 
young people between the ages of 14 and 21, with a projected budget of 
$8.9 million. This funding would only allow 3 percent of those who 
would qualify to be included in the program. The potential number of 
applications for this important jobs program is 43,000 young people 
which reflects the total number of disadvantaged youth in the area 
served by Houston Works. Nationwide, there are 4 million youths who 
would qualify for this summer jobs program if funds were available.
  Last year Houston Works provided 5,177 jobs to youth ages 14 through 
21 years, with a budget of $6.5 million.
  This program has made a significant difference in the lives and 
fortunes of Houston's young people who were fortunate enough to have 
their applications accepted.
  One young lady in particular that comes to mind when I think of the 
real impact of our summer jobs program has on the lives of our Nation's 
young people is Ms. LaQuista L. Stewart.
  Ms. Stewart is a remarkable young woman who worked 4 years with the 
Summer Youth Employment and Training Program during the summers of 1991 
through 1994. Her placement included 2 years as a clerical assistant at 
Smiley High School; 1 year at Texas Children's Hopsital as medical 
assistant to the supervisor of the pulmonary laboratory technician in 
the Diagnostic Center, and 1 year as clerical assistant to Houston City 
Councilmember Felix Fraga.

  Ms. Stewart's uniqueness is not that she did very well in her job 
placements, but that she, like majority of youth served by this 
critical program, had to overcome obstacles to meet the challenges and 
succeed in the program.
  At the age of 2, she and her family were involved in a car wreck that 
left her stepfather permanently disabled and LaQuista lost her spleen 
and left kidney. Her family has gone through great difficulty, both 
financial and personally, as they learned to cope with their physical 
and economic limitations after the accident.
  Ms. Stewart used the income provided by her youth employment to 
assist her family financially and for college expenses.
  Despite her setbacks, Ms. Stewart was able to participate in the 
National Honor Society, became her Class Parliamentarian, worked with 
Future Business Leaders of America, and was ranked 40th in a class of 
365 students.
  Ms. Stewart credits Houston Works Program which is funded by the 
Summer Youth Employment Program for her successful job placement in the 
office of Houston City Councilmember Michael J. Yarbrough. 
Councilmember Yarbrough hired Ms. Stewart in a permanent job on July 
29, 1994. She currently works 40 hours per week and is enrolled in her 
third year at the University of Houston.

[[Page H3248]]

  Some might say, in hindsight, that Ms. LaQuista Stewart would have 
been a success without the Summer Youth Employment Training Program, 
and if this were a perfect world I would agree with them. 
Unfortunately, this world is not perfect and those deserving of a 
chance to learn valuable job skills are not always afforded that 
opportunity.
  I would like to stress the need to look at summer youth employment as 
an extension of the learning experience for those young people who 
would otherwise not have that opportunity. It is the best example that 
we can convey to disadvantaged youth the valuable lessons of work and 
responsibility.
  I would like to see the funding for summer youth employment create a 
separate funding stream for this significant program. Most of our 
disadvantaged young people live in urban areas that can best be served 
by direct funding of these programs. The block grant approach is 
detrimental to summer youth employment because it may not leave States 
with the needed flexibility to assign funds based on the particular 
socioeconomic demographics of the various States.
  This summer jobs program provides income that will generate spending, 
often in impoverished neighborhoods, the summer program helps generate 
economic growth. For each 1,000 kids employed, the program brings 
between $1 and $1.4 million to those community.
  I would hope that the Congress can meet the administration's request 
of $871 million for the next fiscal year's funding of our Nation's 
Summer Youth Employment Program. I would also ask that you keep in mind 
the full benefits of the Summer Youth Employment Program, both tangible 
economic benefits and intangible job learning experience benefits.

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