[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 25, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H3761]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PASS THE AMERICAN JOBS AND CLOSING TAX LOOPHOLES ACT
(Ms. LEE of California asked and was given permission to address the
House for 1 minute.)
Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, today the Congressional Black
Caucus, which I chair, the Asian Pacific American Caucus, the
Progressive Caucus, along with the Jobs Task Force conducted a forum
with the Campaign for Community Change and the Lawyers Committee on
Civil and Human Rights. We had a forum to discuss a comprehensive
legislative strategy to create jobs, especially for the chronically
unemployed.
For example, the national unemployment rate is still way too high,
over 9 percent. Yet, in the African American community it is over 16
percent. African American and Latino teens are unemployed at nearly 40
percent.
It is critical that we pass H.R. 4213, the American Jobs and Closing
Tax Loopholes Act. This bill includes a summer youth jobs provision,
which will put over 350,000 young people to work this summer. Our young
people now are helping their families pay the rent and put food on the
table. Also, summer youth jobs programs give them the essential jobs
and life skills to be productive workers and employees.
Under the Obama administration, we are beginning to see signs of hope
in the economy, but we must do our part and invest in putting people
back to work and pass H.R. 4213. This puts us on the right track.
____________________