[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 37 (Thursday, March 14, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E301]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 H.R. 803, ``THE SUPPORTING KNOWLEDGE AND INVESTING IN LIFELONG SKILLS 
                                 ACT''

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 14, 2013

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 
803, ``The Supporting Knowledge And Investing in Lifelong Skills Act.''
  I join with the National Skills Coalition, a national network of 
business leaders, union affiliates, community colleges, community-based 
organizations, and public workforce agencies who oppose H.R. 803. This 
bill eliminates more than thirty-five federal job programs. H.R. 803 
gives states too much discretion to decide who would receive jobs 
services, and what kinds of programs would be offered. I also agree 
with the National Skills Coalition that consolidation, in and of 
itself, will not produce reform.
  Block granting 35 programs, including those designed to serve adults, 
youth farmworkers, dislocated workers, and other disadvantaged 
populations without any independent evaluations of whether or not these 
programs would benefit from consolidation is bad public policy.
  I am particularly concerned that H.R. 803 would have a harmful impact 
on job and training opportunities for our most vulnerable citizens, 
including the long-term unemployed, veterans, individuals with 
disabilities, low-income youth, and adults from underserved 
communities.
  H.R. 803 eliminates the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program, and other 
supported employment programs that benefit people with disabilities.
  We must ensure that every veteran who has served our nation with 
distinction can return home and be able to quickly find a good job at a 
livable wage. Therefore, we in Congress, in good conscience, should do 
everything in our power to strengthen funding for WIA programs that 
help veterans find jobs--not eliminate them.
  Clearly, at risk youth and adults lead more productive and law-
abiding lives, when they have the dignity and hope that comes with 
being employed. H.R. 803 also completely eliminates the priority of 
service delivery for low-income adults and youth. Youth will now have 
to compete against adults for Workforce Investment Fund funding. This 
is not the time to eliminate training opportunities for low-income 
adults and youth, especially during one of the worst economic downturns 
since the Great Depression.
  I must respectfully ask the following question: what job programs 
have my friends on the other side of the aisle put forward to create 
jobs for our nation's veterans, and the millions of Americans who are 
currently out of work? I have not seen one direct job-creation program 
being proposed by conservative lawmakers, and I continue to see fierce 
opposition to any direct job creation programs proposed by President 
Obama and my other colleagues in the House of Representatives.
  H.R. 803 is simply another example of ``you're on your own,'' ``fend-
for-yourself'' public policy that is bad for business, bad for the 
economy, and harmful to the unemployed.
  Respectfully, I would request that Congress give serious 
consideration to legislation that would create millions of ``fast 
track'' jobs for unemployed veterans, youth, and adults. We can put 
America back to work now rebuilding our nation's infrastructure, 
schools, housing, and communities. I therefore urge Congress to pass a 
comprehensive direct job creation bill now, like the program I have 
proposed in H.R. 1000, ``The Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment And 
Training Act.''
  I urge this body to vote ``no'' on H.R. 803.

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