[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 1838]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              UNEMPLOYMENT

  (Mr. BOEHNER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, today in our country, far too many 
Americans have been unemployed for too long. Out of every 10 people 
looking for work, nearly four have been looking for more than 6 months. 
What for many families began as a crisis has turned into a reality, a 
new normal.
  That's why the House has passed dozens of jobs bills that would 
create a better environment for hiring and more economic growth. One 
proposal awaiting action in the Senate is H.R. 803, the SKILLS Act.
  Right now, if you want to acquire new skills to qualify for a good 
job, you are up against a job-training system that is a maze of 
overlapping programs and waste. The SKILLS Act streamlines and 
strengthens the system to make it more effective for those who need 
help. It reduces roadblocks for both job-seekers and employers trying 
to find the right candidates.
  While our economy has been changing, the way we help prepare our 
workers has not. With so many Americans still asking the question 
``where are the jobs?'' it is clearly past time that we do this.
  Unfortunately, not only have Senate Democrats failed to act on this 
measure, their focus continues to be on improving unemployment. Our 
focus should be on improving employment, making it easier to create 
jobs and to boost wages.
  To help the nation's long-term unemployed, the Senate should passed 
the SKILLS Act as soon as possible.

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