[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 1902-1903]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




REINTRODUCTION OF THE HUMPHREY-HAWKINS FULL EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 27, 2013

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce that I have 
reintroduced the Humphrey-Hawkins 21st Century Full Employment and 
Training Act of 2013. It is my hope that with the reintroduction of 
this bill, Congress will begin to examine the idea that the federal 
government has a significant role to play in

[[Page 1903]]

putting America back to work, especially during our current economic 
downturn. Noted economists have shown that the private sector alone 
will not be able to create a full employment economy in the foreseeable 
future.
  The Federal Government must use its full authority and powers to put 
Americans back to work. In our nation, we have far too many people 
desperately seeking a full-time job. These people are veterans, 
construction workers, young men and women, and those who have lost 
their jobs to unfair foreign competition. We know the financial 
pressures and personal hardships that result from being unemployed for 
long periods of time: the loss of one's dignity, housing and food 
insecurity, loss of health insurance, homelessness, marital problems, 
and the inability to care for one's self or family.
  During the Great Depression, President Roosevelt struck a New Deal 
that put millions of Americans back to work building roads, schools, 
community centers, dams, bridges, parks, and electrification systems. 
In this program, many women were employed constructing blankets for our 
nation's hospitals, and our troops who fought in World War II.
  President Roosevelt was resolute in the idea that every American who 
wanted a job should be able to have one. I also share this view. Help 
provide an unemployed man or woman with a job, and their lives come 
together, and they regain their dignity and sense of self-worth. People 
just do better when they are working. It is just that simple.
  There is no reason why America cannot have a 21st Century New Deal, 
where unemployed Americans become gainfully employed restoring our 
communities, assisting people in need, and repairing our crumbling 
infrastructure. This is what the Humphrey-Hawkins 21st Century Full 
Employment and Training Act of 2013 seeks to accomplish.
  Under the Act, the Department of Labor would work collaboratively 
with local and state governments, non-profits, and the private-sector 
to fund community-based ``fast track'' jobs. This work could include 
renovating housing and schools, weatherizing homes, fixing our aging 
infrastructure, expanding access to broadband and wireless Internet, 
neighborhood beautification projects, or other community initiatives in 
the health and education sectors.
  It is apparent to me that the next wave of significant job growth 
will be in the green jobs and clean energy sectors. The Humphrey-
Hawkins 21st Century Full Employment and Training Act of 2013 would 
help pay for the training of workers to install solar panels in houses 
and buildings, or manufacture wind turbines, electric batteries, and 
electric cars. Funds could be used to train workers to build roads, 
bridges, levees, and clean mass transit systems such as electric bus 
and metro rail cars.
  The bill would provide cities and states with the needed funding to 
pay unemployed inner city youth and adults to rebuild our nation's 
crumbling and dilapidated schools, housing, and neighborhoods.
  There are so many youth whose lives are needlessly ruined, because 
they cannot envision a future that includes dignified work. I truly 
believe young people could be steered away from costly lives of crime 
if they believe they will be able to have a meaningful career. We need 
more jobs, not jails.
  Think about all the unemployed people in America who could be 
employed in the field of child care, working as preschool teachers, or 
assisting our nation's seniors and disabled in their own homes.
  Under the Humphrey-Hawkins 21st Century Full Employment and Training 
Act of 2013, there would be a significant increase in funding for job 
training programs funded under the Workforce Investment Act. Funds 
would go towards successful programs like the Job Corps, which would be 
expanded to provide additional job training and job placement 
opportunities.
  Funds would automatically continue to be disbursed from the Act's 
Full Employment and Training Trust Fund to cities and states, until 
every American worker who wants a job can find one. Additionally, the 
act will be fully funded by a tax on Wall Street speculation, and will 
not add a dime to the federal debt.
  I respectfully urge my fellow colleagues on both sides of the isle to 
consider supporting the Humphrey-Hawkins 21st Century Full Employment 
and Training Act of 2013. The American people need jobs now.

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