[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16686]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 BALTIMORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES TASK FORCE

 Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I encourage my colleagues to join 
me in paying special tribute to the Job Opportunities Task Force, JOTF, 
an independent advocacy and monitoring organization in Baltimore, MD, 
that is celebrating 10 years of service.
  JOTF was begun in 1996 by a handful of people who were concerned 
about job opportunities for low-skilled job seekers in the Baltimore 
area. They called themselves the Job Opportunities Task Force, and they 
hoped they could help unemployed and underemployed men and women. They 
had a short-term goal, which was to come up with ideas and 
recommendations that would break down barriers to better employment and 
to bring private and public partners together to implement these 
changes.
  In 1997, the Abell Foundation gave JOTF a grant to prepare a report 
on the job gap that would present detailed information about what types 
of jobs were available in the Baltimore region, where they were 
located, what they paid, what levels of education and skills were 
required, and where the potential workers were. The report, entitled 
``Baltimore Area Jobs and Low Skill Job Seekers,'' was published in 
l999 and revealed many gaps between the workforce and the jobs that 
were available--far too many impediments to be solved with a few 
meetings.
  Since its incorporation in 2000, JOTF has become a leading voice on 
workforce issues in Maryland, supporting a range of State policy 
initiatives and budget decisions, including increased investment in 
adult education and job training in communities and in prisons. JOTF 
has lobbied to expand the earned income tax credit, reduce barriers to 
(re)employment for ex-offenders, and reform unemployment insurance.
  JOTF designs programs that create viable career paths for low-wage 
workers, helping them reach higher wage jobs in industries that need 
more skilled workers. A good example of JOTF's success is JumpStart, a 
pre-apprenticeship program created and managed by JOTF that trains 100 
low-wage Baltimore residents each year to become licensed electricians, 
plumbers, or carpenters. JOTF also convenes public meetings on local 
and national topics related to employment and the workforce. These 
meetings attract employers, policymakers, interested citizens, and 
direct service providers. JOTF's research informs policymakers and the 
public and encourages the development of programs based on best 
practices. It explores the impact of specific policies and provides 
recommendations on how policies can better serve workers, families, 
employers, and the State's economy.
  JOTF is making a significant difference in Maryland. I urge my 
colleagues to join me today in congratulating JOTF's founding chair, 
Joanne Nathans, whose gentle nature and steely convictions have 
improved the lives of countless Baltimoreans and their families. Please 
join me in sending best wishes to JOTF on the occasion of its 10th 
anniversary and in thanking JOTF for improving the lives of Maryland 
job seekers, workers, and their families.

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