[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 86 (Monday, June 17, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E892-E893]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   INTRODUCTION OF THE YOUTH JOBS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 14, 2013

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Youth Jobs 
Act.
  We are facing a jobs crisis in this country, and even our youth are 
not exempt from its effects. Five years after the Great Recession hit, 
27 million workers are either unemployed or underemployed--roughly one 
out of every six U.S. workers. This is completely unacceptable.
  Even worse though, is the impact this crisis is leaving on the next 
generation of workers.

[[Page E893]]

America's young adults and teens are currently facing unemployment 
rates of 16 and 24 percent respectfully. The ramifications of these 
young Americans not being able to find work are troubling and far 
reaching.
  We must do everything we can to make sure young Americans have the 
jobs they need to pay for higher education and to learn skills that 
will prepare them for careers and professions. If we do not create 
employment opportunities for all young Americans, we inhibit the 
ability and opportunity for them to move up the economic ladder, and to 
improve their conditions.
  For this reason, I am introducing the ``Youth Jobs Act'' with Senator 
Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
  This Act directs the U.S. Department of Labor to provide $1.5 billion 
in grants for states to provide summer and year-round employment 
opportunities for low-income youth. States could then use these funds 
to identify employment opportunities in emerging occupations and in the 
public and nonprofit sector to meet their community's needs.
  An additional $1.5 billion would be distributed through competitive 
grants to states and local communities to provide on-the-job training 
and apprenticeship programs for low-income youth and disadvantaged 
young adults. The grant recipients would be strongly encouraged to 
develop partnerships with employers, community colleges, community 
organizations and join labor-management committees.
  At minimum, every state would receive $15 million to implement summer 
and year round job opportunities and training programs, with the 
remainder being targeted to areas of particularly high youth 
unemployment and poverty.
  Ensuring there are adequate jobs for every American should be 
Congress' number one focus. I encourage my colleagues to support this 
measure to put America's youth to work.

               Fact Sheet on Rep. Conyers' Youth Jobs Act

       At a time when the youth unemployment rate is over 16 
     percent, and the teen unemployment rate is over 24 percent, 
     we have got to do everything we can to make sure that young 
     Americans have the jobs they need to pay for a college 
     education and to move up the economic ladder.
       The Youth Jobs Act that will be introduced in the Senate by 
     Sen. Sanders will provide $3 billion in immediate funding to 
     employ hundreds of thousands of low-income youth and 
     economically disadvantaged young adults in summer and year 
     round jobs; and to provide young Americans with the job 
     training and skills they need for the jobs of the future.
       This legislation is modeled on the youth jobs and training 
     programs included in President Obama's American Jobs Act.
       The Youth Jobs Act would build on the success of the 
     American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which created over 
     374,000 summer job opportunities during 2009 and 2010 to 
     young Americans through $1.2 billion for the Youth Jobs 
     Workforce Investment Act program.
       Under the Youth Jobs Act, the U.S. Department of Labor 
     (DOL) would provide $1.5 billion in grants to states to:
       Provide summer and year round employment opportunities for 
     low-income youth, with direct links to academic and 
     occupational learning; and
       Provide important services such as transportation or child 
     care, necessary to enable young Americans to participate in 
     job opportunities.
       Each state that would like to participate in this program 
     would have to submit a plan to DOL that must include:
       Strategies and activities to provide summer employment 
     opportunities and year-round employment opportunities for 
     low-income youth, including links to educational activities;
       Identifying employment opportunities in emerging or in-
     demand occupations;
       Identifying employment opportunities in the public or 
     nonprofit sector that meet community needs; and
       An estimate of the number of youth expected to be placed in 
     employment opportunities.
       Under this legislation, DOL would also award $1.5 billion 
     in competitive grants to local areas to provide work-based 
     training to low-income youth and disadvantaged young adults.
       Through this bill, DOL will award grant applications to 
     local areas that have the ability to:
       Implement effective strategies and activities to provide 
     unemployed, low-income youth and disadvantaged young adults 
     with the skills needed for employment;
       Provide opportunities for on-the-job training, and 
     registered apprenticeship programs;
       Provide connections to immediate work opportunities; paid 
     internships; enrollment in community colleges; or basic 
     education and training for low-income young adults; and
       Develop partnerships with employers and employer 
     associations, community colleges, and other postsecondary 
     education institutions; community-based organizations; joint 
     labor-management committees; and work-related intermediaries.
       All states would receive a minimum of $15 million to 
     implement summer and year round job opportunities and job-
     training programs under this bill.
       The remainder of the funding would be targeted to areas of 
     high youth unemployment and poverty.

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