[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 149 (Thursday, November 10, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S12689]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KERRY:
  S. 1999. A bill to amend the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to 
transfer the YouthBuild program from the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development to the Department of Labor, to enhance the program, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
Affairs.
  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation that 
would transfer the YouthBuild program from its current home in the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development to the Department of Labor. 
Transferring departmental jurisdiction over this program will help 
ensure that Youthbuild continues to receive the funds it needs to help 
unemployed and undereducated young people ages 16-24 work toward their 
GED or high school diploma while learning job skills by building 
affordable housing for homeless and low-income people. It is supported 
by the YouthBuild Coalition.
  Poverty, neglect, abuse, and deprivation of all kinds can prevent 
people from reaching their true potential. Many of those who have 
fallen off track, suffered losses, and made mistakes can recover. If 
given the opportunity, they can learn to cope with obstacles and care 
effectively about themselves, their families and their communities. 
YouthBuild helps young people who have lost their way to turn their 
lives around.
  YouthBuild is a uniquely comprehensive program that offers at-risk 
youth an immediate productive role rebuilding their communities. While 
attending basic education classes for 50 percent of program time, 
students also receive job skills training in the construction field, 
personal counseling from respected mentors, a supportive peer group 
with positive values, and experience in civic engagement. They build 
houses for homeless and low-income people while earning their own GED 
or high school diploma.
  YouthBuild is built on success. The first YouthBuild program was 
created in 1978. At that time, YouthBuild's future founder, Dorothy 
Stoneman, formed the Youth Action Program to rebuild homes in New York 
City. The successful renovation of an East Harlem tenement led to a 
city-wide coalition and in 1990, led to YouthBuild USA, an organization 
created to replicate this program around the Nation.
  In 1992, I introduced legislation which was enacted into law as part 
of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, authorizing 
federal funding for YouthBuild through the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development.
  In its first 10 years of Federal funding, YouthBuild has demonstrated 
the ability to bring the most disadvantaged youth into productive 
employment, higher education, and civic engagement. Since 1994, more 
than 40,000 YouthBuild students have helped rebuild their communities, 
creating more than 12,000 units of affordable housing, while 
transforming their lives at the same time.
  YouthBuild has earned majority bipartisan support for Federal funding 
in the Senate due to its great success in local communities. Today 
there are 226 YouthBuild programs in 44 States engaging 7,000 young 
adults.
  The number of programs could easily be expanded. Last year alone, 260 
communities were denied YouthBuild funding. The programs that exist 
could easily grow. In 2004, local programs turned away 10,000 
applicants solely for lack of funds.
  The expansion of YouthBuild would help address critical national 
problems: the construction industry is short 80,000 workers; over 
500,000 youth are dropping out of high school every year with no 
prospects of becoming gainfully employed; states are spending huge 
amounts on prisons, housing 365,000 16 to 24 year olds, 65 percent of 
whom have dropped out of high school.
  Consider this story of success: Manny Negron grew up in New Britain, 
CT. He left school during his Sophomore year after having some personal 
problems. He started selling drugs and getting into trouble. Then he 
joined YouthBuild, obtained a GED and learned more about the 
construction industry. ``Before YouthBuild, I didn't know what I wanted 
to do with my life.'' Manny said. ``I had no goals, no plans--I had 
nothing. If it was a weekend when I was partying and in the street, I 
had no plans. Now it's completely different and YouthBuild did that for 
me. Now that I'm away from all that, I actually see a future for myself 
and see what I'm capable of and what I can do with my life.''
  Research on 900 YouthBuild graduates several years after program 
completion showed that 75 percent were employed at an average wage of 
$10/hour or in college. They were voting and paying taxes. Of those who 
had committed felonies, the recidivism rate was a strikingly low, 15 
percent.
  The legislation I am introducing today responds to the Bush 
administration's attempt to move YouthBuild from HUD to DoL in its FY 
2006 budget request. I did not agree with the Administration attempt to 
transfer YouthBuild in the budget; it was simply the wrong approach. 
However, my staff has met with Administration officials, with 
YouthBuild and with YouthBuild's strong supporters. And I believe that 
we can find a way to do this, and I appreciate that the Administration 
has shown a willingness to work with us so far. If done properly, I 
transferring YouthBuild from HUD to DoL could increase YouthBuild's 
scope, helping it to reach the communities and young people that are 
currently denied access due to a lack of funds. This legislation not 
only authorizes the transfer of YouthBuild from HUD to DoL, but also 
allows unlimited future federal funding, continues centralized 
management at DoL and continues the historic role of YouthBuild USA as 
the partner and contractor for quality assurance.
  This legislation is an attempt to help move the process of 
transferring the YouthBuild program forward. I look forward to working 
with Senators Enzi and Kennedy, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the 
Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions to develop 
compromise legislation that will ensure that YouthBuild continues to 
assist young people around the nation. I ask that all my colleagues 
support this legislation and continue to support the YouthBuild.

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