[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 109 (Thursday, September 7, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1664]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      THE YOUTHBUILD TRANSFER ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MAXINE WATERS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 7, 2006

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of the YouthBuild 
Transfer Act, S. 3534. The bill amends the Workforce Investment Act of 
1998 provides for the transfer of the YouthBuild program from HUD to 
the Department of Labor. I would like to acknowledge Mr. Castle, Mr. 
George Miller, Mr. William Lacy Clay and Mr. Dale Kildee who supported 
this bill. I also want to thank Mr. Frank, Ranking Member of the 
Committee on Financial Services for sponsoring the bill.
  The YouthBuild Transfer Act will do four important things. It will:
  (1) Enable disadvantaged youth to obtain the education and employment 
skills necessary to achieve economic self-sufficiency in occupations in 
demand and postsecondary education and training opportunities;
  (2) Provide disadvantaged youth with opportunities for meaningful 
work and service to their communities;
  (3) Foster the development of employment and leadership skills and 
commitment to community development among youth in low income 
communities; and
  (4) Expand the supply of permanent affordable housing for low-income 
families by utilizing the energies and talents of disadvantaged youth.
  The education, employment, and housing needs of our nation's most 
vulnerable youth must be one of our highest priorities. Since 1994, the 
YouthBuild program has awarded $485 million in grants, enabling 47,000 
youth to obtain education, training and trade skills related to the 
building and rehabilitation of affordable housing for low-income 
families and the homeless. The program has a long track record of 
proven success, although for the past two years funding has been down 
23 percent from $65 million to $50 million. YouthBuild would be 
extended for five years consistent with other Work Investment Act 
programs, and would provide for greater flexibility in the use of 
funds. This program is being extended just as the U.S. Bureau of Census 
released the most recent data on youth and poverty in the United 
States.
  In August 2006, the U.S. Bureau of the Census reported that the 
poverty rate for children in the U.S was higher than the rates for 
people 18 to 64 years and older. Children represent 34.9 percent of the 
people living in poverty and 25 percent of the total population of the 
United States. The poverty rate for young children under the age of 6 
living in families were 20.0 percent and 4.8 million. Even more 
astounding is that for those children living in households headed by 
females 52.9 percent were in poverty, over five times the rate of their 
counterparts in married families 9.9 percent. For children under 18 
living in families headed by females, 42.8 percent were in poverty, 
compared with 8.5 percent for married couples. Many of us know that 
these youth are most at risk, and that any public policy or program 
that is designed to assist these young people as they prepare to enter 
the workforce is an investment in our future.

  So why YouthBuild? The poverty data paints a very vivid picture of 
what is going on in America. Too many American youth live in poverty, 
and are robbed of opportunities to take full advantage of all their 
God-given talents. Even Alan Greenspan, the former Chairman of the 
Federal Reserve System, pointed to the fact that the historic causes of 
poverty and disenfranchisement detrimentally impact our entire nation. 
When the least among us do well, we know the entire nation benefits. In 
effect, these youth, who are vital to the economic well-being of this 
country, are handicapped by poverty, poor education and the lack of 
strong viable communities with housing that is livable, affordable and 
safe. YouthBuild is one program that acknowledges the experience of 
millions of American youth by making real investments in their 
education, employment skills and leadership development. It also 
provides housing for the homeless and low-income families that 
represents another approach to address what is an overlooked group.
  The Secretary of Labor is authorized to fund YouthBuild activities 
through grants for which public and nonprofit entities can compete. In 
addition, there are provisions in the bill to ensure the orderly 
transition of the program from HUD to the Department of Labor. In 2005, 
14,000 youth were turned away from the YouthBuild program for lack of 
funding. Over 1000 communities would like to participate in YouthBuild, 
and this bill will make that happen for many of them.
  Mr. Speaker I am convinced that the YouthBuild program represents a 
major step to refocusing our national resources toward a well-
established vehicle that can provide hope and opportunity for 
disadvantaged youth in America. These young people deserve every 
chance, and we must continue to provide opportunities for them to 
succeed. By better preparing our disadvantaged youth to be competitive 
and to function in the ever changing global economy we will continue to 
reduce poverty and strengthen American households. YouthBuild will 
improve our youth and increase housing opportunity for the homeless. I 
urge my Colleagues to support the bill.

                          ____________________