[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 48 (Thursday, March 25, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E487]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ALBIO SIRES

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 25, 2010

  Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the National Urban 
League and celebrate their 100 years of service. Since 1910, the 
National Urban League has grown to have more than 100 affiliates in 36 
states and the District of Columbia. Their work impacts the lives of 
more than 2 million across the nation and I applaud their contributions 
in fighting for historically underserved urban communities.
  In my district, which is 100 percent urban, there are active National 
Urban League affiliates who work hard to provide vital sources such as 
delivering social services and programs. New Jersey's 13th 
Congressional district is incredibly diverse and is made up of 47.6 
percent Latinos, 12.8 percent African Americans, and 5.6 percent 
Asians. Among my constituents, 39.6 percent are foreign born, and this 
diversity enriches our communities. Through the hard work of the 
National Urban League, many of my constituents are becoming empowered 
to gain better access to education, employment, housing, and health 
care.
  The 100th Anniversary of the National Urban League also coincides 
with the publication of their 34th edition of The State of Black 
America. This riveting report features contributions from our nation's 
brightest scholars, politicians, and professionals and demonstrates 
just how severely our urban and minority communities are being impacted 
in the areas of economics, education, health, civic engagement, and 
social justice. For the very first time, The State of Black America, 
included a Hispanic index. In the report, an Equality Index of 100 
percent would signify that minorities are on par with Caucasians; 
however, this report found that African-Americans received an overall 
Equality Index of 71.8 percent and Hispanics received an overall score 
of 75.5 percent. Clearly, there is more progress to be made.
  The area of economics represents the greatest disparity between 
minorities and whites, and the unemployment statistics were the most 
disconcerting. In 2009, African-American unemployment was 14.8 percent, 
Hispanic unemployment was 12.1 percent, and white unemployment was 8.5 
percent. Further, for adult black men, the unemployment rate was 17.8 
percent as compared to 8.8 percent for white men. For adult black 
women, the unemployment rate is 12.1 percent as compared to 7.3 percent 
for white women. The high rate of national unemployment is impacting 
all Americans, but is having a particularly devastating effect on 
African-Americans.
  In an effort to combat these sobering numbers, the National Urban 
League introduced The National Urban League 's Plan for Putting America 
Back to Work. This six point plan targets $168 billion in spending over 
two years through: (1) direct create job creation, (2) expansion of the 
Youth Summer Jobs program, (3) creation of urban jobs academies, (4) 
creation of green empowerment zones, (5) expansion of the hiring of 
housing counselors nationwide, and (6) expansion of the Small Business 
Administration's Community Express Loan Program. Together, these 
recommendations will address the jobs crisis that our urban communities 
are facing. The National Urban League's Centennial initiative is, ``I 
AM EMPOWERED,'' and sets a goal for every American to achieve access to 
a quality job which includes a living wage and good benefits by 2025. 
Let us all work together and make this goal a reality.
  Madam Speaker, I applaud the National Urban League for their 
dedication in serving our communities and ask my colleagues to join me 
in recognizing their 100 years of achievements.

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