[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 96 (Friday, July 17, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1330-E1331]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CUTS IN SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT FUNDING

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. HAROLD E. FORD, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 16, 1998

  Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, Each of the last two years, Mr. Speaker, I 
have witnessed over 5,000 young people in my district stand in line for 
the chance to apply for a summer job. And unfortunately, each year, at 
least 3,000 of these young people have been turned away because of a 
lack of resources--despite $2.8 million of federal funding per/year and 
local government and private sector support.
  So instead of waking-up each morning for eight weeks out of the 
summer and being exposed to the rigors, habits, and rewards of work, 
thousands of young people in my district--mostly 15, 16, and 17 years 
olds--have had little more to do than hang-out on the streets looking 
for ways to keep themselves entertained and occupied.
  So I rise today, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the thousands of young 
people in my district and countless others across America, to express 
my deep concern and frustration over the decision last week by the 
Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee to report-out a bill that will, 
among other things, eliminate $871

[[Page E1331]]

million in federal funding for summer youth employment programs.
  How, I ask, do my colleagues on the other side of the aisle expect 
our young people to develop an appreciation of the value and importance 
of education and work, if all they see is Congress appropriating money 
to build more prison cells, but not to air condition schools or provide 
summer jobs?
  Mr. Speaker, when, and if, anyone has an answer to my question, I, 
along with the thousands of young people in my district, would love to 
hear it.

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