[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 19 (Wednesday, February 3, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1176-S1177]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DOMENICI:
  S. 363. A bill to establish a program for training residents of low-
income rural areas for, and employing the residents in, new 
telecommunications industry jobs located in rural areas, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


    THE RURAL EMPLOYMENT IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY ACT OF 1999

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today with great pleasure to 
introduce ``The Rural Employment in Telecommunications Industry Act of 
1999.''
  The introduction of this Bill marks a historic opportunity for rural 
communities to create jobs within the telecommunications industry. The 
Bill establishes a program to train residents of low income rural areas 
for employment in telecommunications industry jobs located in those 
same rural areas.
  As many of my colleagues know, I have an initiative called ``rural 
payday'' and I believe this Bill is yet another step in creating jobs 
for our rural areas. All too often a rural area is characterized by a 
high number of low income residents and a high unemployment rate.
  Moreover, our rural areas are often dependent upon a small number of 
employers or a single industry for employment opportunities. 
Consequently, when there is a plant closing, a downturn in the economy, 
or a slowdown in the area's industry the already present problems are 
only compounded.
  Mr. President, I would also like to take a moment and talk about New 
Mexico.
  While New Mexico may be the 5th largest state by size with its 
beautiful mountains, desert, and Great Plains and vibrant cities such 
as Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces it is also a very rural state. 
The Northwest and Southeast portions of the state are closely tied to 
the fortunes of the oil and gas industry. Additionally, a community can 
be dealt a severe blow with the closing or downsizing of an employer or 
manufacturing plant.
  I would also like to mention that communities like Clovis and Roswell 
are already taking steps to lay the foundation for creating jobs 
through the Call Center Industry. Just recently in Clovis, over a 1,000 
people participated in a Career Expo that focused on attracting Call 
Center companies to the area.
  As I stated before, all too often rural areas do not possess the 
resources of more metropolitan areas and can be devastated by a single 
event or downturn in the economy. The Bill I am introducing today will 
allow communities, like those I just mentioned, to apply for Federal 
aid to assist them in taking the next step in attracting 
telecommunications jobs.
  The Bill will allow the Secretary of Labor to establish a program to 
promote rural employment in the telecommunications industry by 
providing grants to states with low income rural areas. The program 
will be a win win proposition for all involved because employers 
choosing to participate in the project by bringing jobs to the rural 
area will be assured of a highly skilled workforce.
  The program will provide residents with intensive services to train 
them for the new jobs in the telecommunications industry. The intensive 
services will include customized training and appropriate remedial 
training, support services and placement of the individual in one of 
the new jobs created by the program.
  And that is what this bill is about, providing people with the tools 
needed to succeed. With these steps we are embarking on the road of 
providing our rural areas throughout our nation with a vehicle to 
create jobs. We are creating opportunities and an environment where our 
citizens can succeed and our communities can be vibrant.

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