[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 123 (Friday, August 1, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1326-E1327]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATIONS TO THE JOB CORPS PROGRAM ON THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY

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                            HON. LAMAR SMITH

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 1, 2014

  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this year the Job Corps program 
celebrates its 50th anniversary. It does much good by helping young 
people earn a high school diploma, develop a career, and obtain a good 
job.
  I am pleased to have had the opportunity to work with the individuals 
at the Gary Job Corps Center in San Marcos, Texas. Gary Job Corps 
opened its doors in 1965 and has provided a wide range of career 
technical training opportunities to students in San Marcos ever since.
  Gary Job Corps has a long, distinguished history in our community 
that began in a deactivated air field. The former Gary Air Field was 
transformed from an air base to a career technical training facility. 
Barracks and buildings were converted to dormitories, classrooms, 
training shops, and offices.
  Today, Gary is the largest Job Corps Center in the United States with 
more than 1,600 students. Gary Job Corps has more than 20 career 
technical training opportunities that range from health occupations and 
business technology to computer related professions. Other 
opportunities include construction, manufacturing, human services, and 
correctional and security officer training. Additionally, Gary Job 
Corps offers the largest GED program in the state of Texas. Students 
can obtain their high school diploma via the Internet and acquire an 
accredited Texas high school diploma.
  There is overwhelming support for the Center among local civic and 
community groups. Teachers, mentors, friends and advisors selflessly 
invest themselves on a daily basis in the futures of Gary's students.
  But it is the students themselves who make the greatest investment 
and they are to be commended for their dedication to success. The 
tireless efforts of the bright, young men and women of Gary Job Corps 
have enabled them to enter a competitive marketplace equipped with the 
skills and education necessary to succeed; and succeed they do.
  The motto on the entrance to Gary Job Corps says, ``Not your last 
chance, your best chance.'' I commend Gary Job Corps for providing 
these students an opportunity to discover their learning potential and 
providing them with the ability to succeed. I also commend these 
students for recognizing that this ``best chance'' required hard work 
and dedication on their part, and for rising to meet this challenge.
  Congratulations to Gary Job Corps and the Job Corps Program on 50 
years of ``best chances.'' May you continue to prepare America's young 
people with the skills needed to succeed in a career and in life.

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