[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 81 (Monday, June 14, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   BACK TO WORK INCENTIVE ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 3, 2004

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to today's 
ill-conceived bill.
  Today, we should be creating jobs to replace the more than 2 million 
that have been lost the last three years. 38,000 private sector jobs 
and 43,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost in Minnesota alone since 
January 2001. This bill does nothing to replace them.
  We should be investing in our Nation's existing workforce training 
infrastructure. Last year, the Dakota County Workforce Council in my 
district helped over 1,000 dislocated workers and their resource rooms 
served nearly 40,000 individuals. Even more people could have received 
job training assistance with adequate funding for our One-Stops.
  Instead, the Republican leadership's bill gives unemployed workers a 
voucher--up to $3,000--instead of the job training they need and 
deserve.
  This bill ignores the real problems facing our working families.
  I have heard from Minnesota's workforce professionals who are worried 
that without new money, job training funds will be diverted under this 
plan, reducing funding for proven, successful job training programs 
offered by workforce training centers in my district.
  Congress needs to help the unemployed now, not start new, unproven 
programs.
  We should be extending unemployment benefits for the 1.5 million 
workers who have exhausted their current benefits, including over 
26,000 Minnesotans who lost their benefits because Congress failed to 
act in December.
  Workers in my district aren't asking for new employment vouchers. 
They are asking for jobs.
  We are passing a bill that creates no new jobs while limiting worker 
access to existing training services. These vouchers undermine benefits 
for the long-term unemployed who can already access job training 
services.
  I urge my colleagues to vote no.

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