[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 79 (Tuesday, June 8, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1062]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   BACK TO WORK INCENTIVE ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 3, 2004

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 444. H.R. 444 
authorizes a pilot program to allow unemployed workers to receive job-
training vouchers.
  Unfortunately, the bill does not even fund the voucher program. The 
funding must come from existing job-training programs. These vouchers 
could be as small as $500 and as large as $3000. Voucher recipients 
could purchase job-training and child-care services, or use the funds 
to cover some transportation expenses. However, job-training services 
would no longer be free, but would have to be purchased for a one-year 
period.
  We are stealing Peter's training money to give Paul a voucher. Tell 
me how this improves job training in our country? This is not the 
solution for the millions of Americans that don't have a job and can't 
put food on the table. The White House and Republican Congress have 
failed to create jobs. They have failed to respond in thoughtful way to 
the needs of the American workers or the basic needs of our sluggish 
economy. Where is the compassion in the White House's conservatism for 
the 1.5 million Americans that have exhausted their unemployment 
benefits?
  H.R. 444 is a misguided response to the great needs of our country. 
We need more jobs, not to privatize the job training. Millions need to 
put food on the table with their unemployment checks, not a tax cut 
that rewards corporations that move jobs overseas. I have had enough of 
nonsense legislation from this White House and Republican Congress. I 
will not vote for a bill that will result in cuts to the very job-
training that will help people get a job.
  In sum, this bill siphons money away from job training programs, 
limits people's access to that training, and does not even fund the 
pilot project. The motivation for this bill must have been, ``why help 
people, when you can just pretend.''
  I urge my colleagues to reject this ineffective and purely cosmetic 
bill.

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