Jobs and Job Training

Mike Barnicle: What about the fact that unemployment benefits pumped into the economy are an immediate benefit to the economy. Immediate. 

John Shadegg: No, they're not.

…

Mike Barnicle: Let's go back to what you said about unemployment checks. Unemployment checks, people don't spend that money?

John Shadegg: No. they will spend as little as they can because they'll hold on to it as long as they can. In reality, they don't create jobs.

 

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement after House Republicans blocked an emergency extension of unemployment insurance today.  On November 27, two million workers stand to lose unemployment insurance benefits unless Congress extends them. Millions more will lose this lifeline in the weeks and months to follow.

The Associated Press wrote today that the 111th Congress holds a “record of achievement unseen in years.” The report read:

“Not since the explosive years of the civil rights movement and the hard-fought debut of government-supported health care for the elderly and poor have so many big things -- love them or hate them -- been done so quickly.

“Gridlock? It may feel that way. But that's not the story of the 111th Congress -- not the story history will remember.”

The AP specifically referenced many of Chairman Miller’s achievements when listing important legislation Congressional Democrats have passed, including “a giant step toward universal [health care] coverage”, “an economic stimulus package… to avoid a full-blown depression”,  “making college loans more affordable” and “making it easier for women to challenge pay discrimination.”

Chairman Miller pledged in 2008 to keep the Education and Labor Committee focused on rebuilding and strengthening the middle class during the 111th Congress.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today after the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that 64,000 private sector jobs were created in September, the ninth straight month of private sector job creation.  

The Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act, approved by the House during a rare emergency vote in early August, provides critical aid to communities struggling with budget shortfalls by supporting 319,000 American jobs in local communities, including 161,000 teacher jobs. Local news from communities across the country shows that this education funding is allowing school districts to keep teachers in the classroom.


Iowa’s Waterloo Courier reported:

“Iowa school districts will split a pot of $96.5 million in federal funding intended to save or create education jobs.

“Districts will receive monthly payments throughout the 2010-11 fiscal year starting in September or October based on enrollment. In Northeast Iowa, that means a total of $2.35 million for Waterloo Community Schools, $885,245 for Cedar Falls Schools, $386,161 for Waverly-Shell Rock, $300,669 for Independence and $134,235 for Hudson.”

The Salt Lake Tribune has similar good news to share, “The Alpine district already has added more teachers and the Provo district is paying for full-day kindergarten.”

The Austin Daily Herald of Austin, Minn. also reported that many local school teachers are able to keep their jobs due to the Congress’ action:

“More Austin Public School teachers will keep their jobs thanks to an estimated $1 million dollars in federal aid from the Education Jobs Fund.”

…

“The incoming aid helps ease the district’s projected $1 to 1.5 million deficit for next year, acting as an insurance against possible job cuts in the immediate future.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today issued the following statement in response to Governor Schwarzenegger's decision to withhold $1.2 billion in federal school jobs grants for the state of California. Miller fought for almost a year for additional aid to keep teachers in the classroom, funding that Congress approved last month in a rare emergency session.

The number of job openings in the U.S. economy is rising for the first time since April, a strong signal that the economic recovery is holding. The Associated Press reported:

“ Job openings rose in July after two months of declines, a positive sign that companies could step up hiring in the coming months.

“The Labor Department says the number of jobs advertised rose by 6.2 percent to 3.04 million. That's the highest total since April, when temporary census hiring inflated that month's figure.”

This news follows the announcement that the month of August represents the eighth straight month of private sector job growth.  Congressional Democrats have worked tirelessly to improve the economy after pulling the nation out of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression:

• Democrats approved the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which is responsible for approximately 3 million jobs.
• Democrats approved The Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act which saves or creates 319,000 local jobs across the country, including 161,000 teacher jobs.
• Democrats fought on behalf of unemployed Americans by extending unemployment benefits for 2.5 million people out of work due to no fault of their own.

Chairman Miller has been a strong advocate for additional job creation as the author of the Local Jobs for America Act, which would help create and save public and private sector jobs and restore vital services in local communities.

More information about the work Miller has done to save jobs

The Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act, signed into law in August, will save or create an estimated 319,000 American jobs in local communities, including 161,000 teacher jobs. 

States are applying for and receiving funds:

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, released the following statement in honor of Labor Day and the announcement that the economy created 67,000 private sector jobs in August, the eighth straight month of private sector job growth. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Congressman George Miller (D-CA), Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today issued the following joint statement announcing that the U.S. Department of Education approved California’s application to receive $1.2 billion as part of the recently passed Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act, which will fund an estimated 16,500 teacher jobs in California.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today issued the following statement in response to House Republican Leader John Boehner’s remarks at the City Club of Cleveland.

Last week, the House approved H.R. 1586, the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act. President Obama signed the legislation into law the very same day, sending $10 billion to local school districts to prevent education layoffs and rehire teachers who had already received pink slips. The law is expected to save the jobs of 161,000 American teachers, and is already impacting communities across the county. Today’s Miami Herald reported that the Broward County School Board recently approved plans to rehire nearly 100 teachers due to the influx of federal aid:

“With days to go before classes begin, the Broward County School Board gave the OK Tuesday for its superintendent to start recalling nearly 100 laid-off teachers and other teachers whose work has been curtailed.

“Broward schools will receive about $54 million to rehire teachers and other employees, thanks to a new federal stimulus package with $10 billion earmarked for education jobs.”

Chairman Miller has been a lead congressional advocate for emergency aid to stop teacher layoffs, saying on many occasions, “We can’t allow a child’s education to become a casualty of what is happening in our economy.”

Miller proposed a $23 billion dollar emergency “Education Jobs Fund” in late 2009 and authored the Local Jobs for America Act, which would help save local communities from devastating public sector layoffs. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today issued the following statement after U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced that California will receive more than $487 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The recovery dollars will fund teacher jobs and strengthen ongoing education reform efforts in California public elementary and secondary schools.  Chairman Miller authored key education portions of the Recovery Act in 2009, and recovery funding has helped create 47,000 California education jobs from April 1 to June 30, 2010 alone.  California has received approximately $11 billion in education assistance under the Recovery Act since 2009.

Yesterday, President Obama signed H.R. 1586, the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act, legislation that will prevent mass teacher layoffs, keep police and firefighters on the job, and close tax loopholes that encourage corporations to ship American jobs overseas. The new law will save or create 319,000 American jobs in local communities, including 161,000 teacher jobs. These much-needed funds are expected to reach the states in 45 days. Communities across the country are already celebrating the passage of this legislation:

The News-Leader of Springfield, Mo. reported:

“The bill would send Missouri $292 million for Medicaid and $189.7 million to help cash-strapped schools rehire staff or prevent future layoffs. The education funding will save 3,000 jobs statewide and more than 1,200 in the 4th, 7th and 8th congressional districts. The Medicaid funding would help states meet other budget needs, such as keeping thousands of police officers, nurses and other public workers employed.”

Montana’s Great Falls Tribune passed on similar news:

“Montana will receive $38 million in Medicaid funding and $30.7 million to avoid layoffs, mostly of K-12 teachers, from the bill. The U.S. Education Department estimates that the money will save about 700 teachers' jobs in Montana.”

California’s Coachella Valley will also benefit greatly, according to The Desert Sun:

“Valley schools may be able to rehire teachers and shrink the size of classes when school starts now that a $26 billion jobs bill has become law.

“‘I guess there is such a thing as Christmas in August,’ said Ricardo Medina, superintendent of Coachella Valley Unified School District.”

Chairman Miller appeared on MSNBC yesterday morning to voice his passionate support for the legislation and discuss why job creation is vital to the economic recovery:

“What we’re talking about is creating jobs for teachers, for firemen, for police, for nurses – the people that hold our public spaces together in this country. And we should not have our children lose a year’s education because the Republicans refuse to create jobs.

“And you know what they call teachers and firemen and nurses and policemen with jobs? You know what small businesses call them? They call them customers.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House of Representatives today approved legislation that will save or create 319,000 American jobs in local communities, including 161,000 teacher jobs, and also discourages American corporations from shipping jobs overseas. By a vote of 247 to 161, the House passed H.R. 1586, the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act.   President Obama indicated he would sign the legislation into law later today.

“With this vote today, we’re taking decisive action to prevent our children from becoming victims of this economy by ensuring more teachers remain in the classroom. This legislation won’t save every job but it will certainly provide much-needed relief and a critical lifeline to schools,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee.

Later today, the House will vote on H.R. 1586, the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act. It provides $10 billion for additional support to local school districts to prevent imminent layoffs. The latest estimates from the Department of Education are that this fund will help keep 161,000 educators employed this coming school year. It pays for these additional funds by closing loopholes that encourage corporations to ship jobs overseas.

Last week, the Washington Post editorial board didn't think it was important to save teacher jobs. In Chairman Miller's letter to the editor  today, he sets them straight about the importance of saving teacher jobs:

It is disappointing that The Post's editorial board, which consistently supports school reform, opposes efforts to keep teachers in the classroom by way of a $10 billion education jobs package ["Throwing money at education," editorial, Aug. 6]. Across the country, damaging budget cuts have forced school districts to lay off hundreds of thousands of employees, shorten school years and increase class sizes -- to the detriment of students. All of these decisions were based on decreased revenue, largely due to the financial crisis that was no fault of any principal, teacher or student. 

This emergency investment in our schools will save teacher jobs and keep students in their classrooms, learning, growing and succeeding. If we were to take the path suggested by The Post, we would let our schools suffer, stifle our students' futures and reverse the progress made in schools under the Obama administration. Congress won't let that happen.

This morning Chairman Miller appeared on MSNBC to explain why the House is returning from its 6-week district work period to vote on this important piece of legislation. Watch him after the jump:

The House will reconvene for a rare August vote today to approve H.R. 1586, the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act, and send it to President Obama for his signature.  The bill is expected to save approximately 161,000 teacher jobs nationwide.

This morning Chairman Miller appeared on MSNBC to explain why the House is returning from its 6-week district work period to vote on this important piece of legislation.

Chairman Miller also wrote a letter to the editor about the importance of saving teacher jobs.

After the Senate passed the measure last week, Chairman Miller said:

“I applaud the Senate for passing this emergency legislation that protects not only our teacher jobs but our economic competitiveness. Next week, my colleagues and I in the House will return to Washington to take this important vote -- a vote we’ve taken twice already in the House -- to keep thousands of teachers in their jobs. We need this bill to ensure our teachers remain in the classroom and our students continue to learn. It’s clear our students, our teachers and our country will reap the benefits of our decisive action. This investment will save jobs and help prevent districts from shortening the school year, increasing class sizes and closing libraries in the wake of horrific and damaging budget cuts. While this latest round of funding isn’t enough to avert all layoffs, it is a critical investment in our children and in our future.”

USA Today reported this morning on a recent trend in manufacturing: reshoring. Large companies are beginning to bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States. USA Today reports:

“A small but growing band of U.S. manufacturers — including giants such as General Electric (GE), NCR (NCR) and Caterpillar (CAT)— are turning the seemingly inexorable offshoring movement on its head, bringing some production to the U.S. from far-flung locations such as China. Others that were buying components overseas are switching to U.S. suppliers.

“Ford Motor said Wednesday that it's bringing nearly 2,000 jobs to its U.S. plants by 2012 from suppliers, including those in Japan, Mexico and India.”

Democrats in Congress recently unveiled their new “Make it in America” initiative to build on this trend and create new jobs here in the U.S. Just today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the U.S. added 36,000 manufacturing jobs during July 2010. Next week, the House will vote on a bill to close tax loopholes that encourage big corporations to ship American jobs overseas.

On Thursday, President Obama visited a Chicago Ford plant, praising the company’s commitment to selling American cars overseas. During a speech to Ford employees he stated:

“… Ford has also committed to selling more of the cars you build around the world, including the Explorer that you manufacture right here -- we’re going to sell it in up to 90 countries.”

During his visit, the President also announced “a new $250 million Export-Import Bank loan guarantee for Ford” from the Department of Energy that will allow the company to continue creating American manufacturing jobs. CNN reported on the positive impact to the Chicago plant:

“The company recently announced that the Chicago plant is adding 1,200 new jobs. The positions were made possible by the new Department of Energy loans aimed at helping companies retool their plants to make more fuel-efficient vehicles.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today issued the following statement after the Senate passed H.R. 1586, the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act. The House will reconvene for a rare August vote this coming Tuesday to approve the legislation and send it to President Obama for his signature.  The bill is expected to save approximately 140,000 teacher jobs nationwide. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today issued the following statement after Speaker Pelosi announced the House of Representatives will return to Washington next week to vote on legislation recently moved forward by the Senate to invest $10 billion to save teachers jobs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement after the House gave final approval to an emergency extension of unemployment insurance.

“After weeks of obstruction by Senate Republicans, more than 2.5 million Americans struggling to find work will now be able to breathe a small sigh of relief. Unemployment benefits are a proven way to boost our economy while delivering a much-needed lifeline for Americans looking for work. While nothing replaces a good-paying job, providing basic support for families out of work through no fault of their own is the decent and right thing to do.”

More information on Democratic efforts to create jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House of Representatives approved bipartisan legislation today on a voice vote that will help key industries, such as manufacturing, meeting their skilled workforce needs.

The Strengthening Employment Clusters to Organize Regional Success Act (SECTORS), H.R. 1855, will help address local skills shortages by bringing employers in key industries together with education, labor, workforce, and other groups to identify and provide training tailored to meet the sector needs of that region’s economy. Introduced by U.S. Reps. Dave Loebsack (D-IA) and Todd Platts (R-PA), the bill will help promote ‘sector strategies’, which drive industry growth and competitiveness by aligning training and education with actual local employers’ needs. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today demanding U.S. Senate Republicans allow a vote on important provisions on jobs and an unemployment benefits extension.

“The Senate GOP’s continued obstruction shows once again that they are willing to play politics with the livelihoods of millions of Americans out of work and in desperate need of help. While Democrats are working to dig this country out of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, Republicans continue to play petty political games by refusing to allow a vote on a critical extension of unemployment benefits and funding for summer jobs. Unemployment benefits are a proven way to boost our economy while delivering a much-needed lifeline for Americans looking for work in this tough economy. It's time for Senate Republicans to stop denying this critical assistance to American workers who have lost their job through no fault of their own.”

More information on Democratic efforts to create jobs

Today, the U.S. Department of Education announced the availability of $25 million to help retain employees working for companies that will service loans under the new Direct Lending Program.  By transitioning to all Direct Lending and eliminating wasteful subsidies to private bankers, this Democratic Congress was able make college dramatically more affordable by investing billions of dollars in additional student aid – all at no new cost to taxpayers.

Below is a statement from Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller, author of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act:

“Secretary Duncan has taken an important step forward today for America’s workers and the future of this country. By getting this money out the door quickly, he’s accomplished the critical tasks of both helping to save jobs and retrain and retain workers while also ensuring our student loan programs are operating in the best interest of students and families working hard to pay for college.”

Read the Department’s full release.

More information about investments in students and families.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee,  issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the employment situation data for May 2010.

Today, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs issued the following statement, emphasizing the President’s emphatic support for emergency legislation to help prevent teacher layoffs and create and save 300,000 education jobs.

“As the House prepares to vote on the emergency spending bill today, communities across this country are facing an education crisis with hundreds of thousands of teachers at all levels at risk of losing their jobs.The President shares the concern of millions of Americans  that cuts to state and local budgets are forcing states and localities to cut education spending drastically, impacting the learning and growth of our nation’s children. While some states may not feel the impact yet, there are thousands of teachers who will receive pink slips in the coming months.  The President strongly supports targeted aid focused on preventing these  teacher layoffs in order to stem the education crisis.”

The House Appropriations Committee will vote on the legislation later today. [Note: This vote was postponed.]

U.S. Rep. George Miller, chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, and a lead champion to help save teacher jobs, applauded the White House for their clear message.

“The President knows the desperate situation in our schools. He knows the cost of inaction for our schools, our teachers, our students, our families and our communities. Today, he’s sent us the clear message that Congress has to act now to help prevent these layoffs that would punish teachers, devastate communities and set back the significant progress out students are making in school. ”

Yesterday, the White House released state-by-state estimates of the number of jobs that will be saved or created through the $23 billion Education Jobs Fund.

View the state-by-state job estimates.

View the White House fact sheet, “Keep Our Teachers Working”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Facing tight budgets as the result of recession, local communities are set to lay off another 222,500 workers beginning this summer, threatening to overwhelm the recovery, according to an analysis released today by the Economic Policy Institute.  

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the White House released state-by-state estimates of the number of jobs that will be saved or created through the $23 billion Education Jobs Fund, that is included as emergency spending in the FY2010 Supplemental Appropriations Bill. The $23 billion emergency investment will help fund an estimated 300,000 education jobs across the country, including teachers, librarians, principals, guidance counselors, school cafeteria workers, and janitors, among others.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – An analysis released yesterday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office shows that the Recovery Act saved the economy from the brink by adding millions of jobs and increasing economic activity, U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA) said today. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee and author of the Local Jobs for America Act, today issued the following statement applauding U.S. Rep. Dave Obey (D-WI), chair of the House Appropriations Committee, for including key investments in education in the FY2010 Supplemental Appropriations Bill. Specifically, the legislation, which the House Appropriations Committee will vote on tomorrow, includes $23 billion to save education jobs in schools across the country. 

Update: The American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act was passed by the House of Representatives on May 28, 2010.

The House of Representatives is expected to vote this week on the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act (H.R. 4213), a measure that would help the nation continue along the path of economic recovery and job growth.

A year and a half ago, this country was suffering from a recession created by years of extreme economic and fiscal policies under the previous administration.  Nearly 800,000 jobs a month were being lost when President Obama was sworn into office. 

Thanks to the Recovery Act, we are now seeing positive job gains.  Job losses have turned to jobs gains of 290,000 in April 2010—the largest gain in four years and a 1 million job swing from the end of the Bush administration. This marks the fourth month of job growth with 573,000 American jobs added since December—84% in private sector.

We are finally headed in the right direction, but still have more work to do.  This legislation builds on this positive growth by continuing crucial help for families still dealing with the aftermath of the recession and financial scandals.

Among other things, the bill: assists unemployed workers, funds summer jobs, provides pension relief, and gives the more than 50 million workers who depend on 401(k) type plans clear and complete information on the fees they pay. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Legislation to create and save jobs in local communities would be partially offset by almost $39 billion in increased tax revenues and a reduction in social spending, according to an independent analysis released today by the Economic Policy Institute.  EPI also calculated that the legislation would indirectly create an estimated 150,000 jobs – jobs supported by the spending of workers whose jobs were directly created or saved.

“Our nation’s budding economic recovery can ill afford another round of significant layoffs,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), lead sponsor of the Local Jobs for America Act (H.R. 4812) and chair of the House Education and Labor Committee. “This analysis confirms that keeping Americans working is more beneficial to our economy than handing them a pink slip.”

The Economic Policy Institute released an analysis today about the economic impact and cost of the Local Jobs for America Act. What they found was:

By preserving and creating jobs in communities around the country, the Local Jobs for America bill would lead to higher income and payroll tax receipts and reduce spending for safety net programs, ultimately offsetting an estimated $39 billion of the bill's $75 billion in outlays.

EPI also calculated that the legislation would indirectly create an estimated 150,000 jobs – jobs supported by the spending of workers whose jobs were directly created or saved.

“Our nation’s budding economic recovery can ill afford another round of significant layoffs,” said Rep. George Miller , lead sponsor of the Local Jobs for America Act (H.R. 4812) and chair of the House Education and Labor Committee. “This analysis confirms that keeping Americans working is more beneficial to our economy than handing them a pink slip.”

To prevent cuts to vital local services, part of the legislation would provide $75 billion over two years directly to local communities to stop planned cuts or to hire back 675,000 workers for local services. EPI’s analysis of this part of the legislation found that almost $39 billion of the cost would be offset because it would keep taxpayers on payrolls and reduce spending on unemployment and other social safety net benefits.

“[The Local Jobs for America Act’s] net cost will be much lower than advertised as it puts people back to work and turns them into tax-payers rather than benefit-collectors,” the EPI analysis concluded.

The bill also would provide $24 billion to states to help support 250,000 education jobs, put 5,500 law enforcement officers on the beat, and retain, rehire, and hire firefighters. The Local Jobs for America Act would also fund approximately 50,000 additional private-sector on-the-job training positions to help local businesses put people back to work. Workers would be able to acquire core job skills and important work experience for private employers.

See the estimated number of jobs created or saved in local communities, which is part of why more than 300 national and local organizations have announced their support of the Local Jobs for America Act.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today after the Council of Great City Schools released their report “Investing Wisely and Quickly -- Use of ARRA Funds in America's Great City Schools,” highlighting the effects of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) on urban school districts across the country. The report shows the law helped save jobs, build capacity and advance reforms in education. 

The White House has a blog post about the upcoming financial crisis that many states are facing and the cuts to education they will have to make.

President Obama said:

And it’s why, through our recovery efforts, we’ve provided emergency aid that saved the jobs of more than 400,000 teachers and other education jobs -– and why I believe these efforts must continue. I believe these efforts must continue as states face severe budget shortfalls that put hundreds of thousands of jobs at risk. We need and our children need our teachers in the classroom. We need your passion and your patience, your skill and experience, your determination to reach every single child.

The White House says, "Now we need swift, bold action from Congress to respond to state and local budget cuts that are placing public education at risk and endangering teacher jobs.  Thanks to the leadership of Senator Harkin and Congressmen Miller and Obey, we have legislation to avert this crisis."

Chairman Miller has been making the case that that additional funding for states is vital to our continued economic expansion. He was a co-sponsor of the Jobs for Main Street Act that passed the House in December and waits on Senate action.

Chairman Miller along with House Democrats and a bipartisan group of mayors are behind the Local Jobs for America Act, authored by Rep. George Miller, that will save and create jobs quickly in both the public and private sectors and help restore vital services that families and local communities rely on.

See the Obama Administration’s letter of strong support to Speaker Pelosi and Leader Reid on this legislation.

Teachers, firefighters and policemen nationwide are losing their jobs due to local budget shortfalls.  Chairman Miller has urged Congress to pass the Local Jobs for America Act to create or save one million public and private sector jobs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to an announcement earlier today that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s budget will cut the jobs of 11,000 city workers, including teachers, firefighters and police officers, U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA) again called on Congress to act immediately on legislation that would save or create one million public and private sector jobs. Miller is the chair of the House Education and Labor Committee and the author of the legislation, the Local Jobs for America Act.

Both the New York Times and the Washington Post highlighted the looming deficit problems for states and localities and how it could mean a loss of nearly 300,000 teachers' jobs nationwide.

In the New York Times editorial, Saving the Teachers, they say:

Last year’s $100 billion education stimulus plan insulated the public schools from the worst of the recession and saved an estimated 300,000 jobs. With the economy still lagging and states forced to slash their budgets, Congress must act again to prevent a wave of teacher layoffs that could damage the fragile recovery and hobble the school reform effort for years to come.

In March, Representative George Miller, a Democrat of California, introduced a jobs bill that included a $23 billion school rescue plan. Senator Tom Harkin, a Democrat of Iowa, has since introduced a similar plan fashioned as an emergency spending bill. The House version is the better of the two.

The need for a second school stimulus plan was underscored on Monday by a new analysis from the American Association of School Administrators, which reported that cash-strapped districts were prepared to cut as many 275,000 jobs in the 2010-2011 school year.

The loss of that many paychecks — and the resulting decline in consumer spending — could kill off still more jobs in the communities where teachers and other school employees live.

(emphasis added)

Harold Meyerson wrote about the school recession in the Washington Post:

The worst recession since the 1930s is clobbering the nation's schools.

In Indiana and Arizona, the legislatures have eliminated free all-day kindergarten. In Kansas, some school districts have gone to four-day weeks. In New Jersey, 60 percent of school districts are reducing their course offerings. In Albuquerque, the number of school district employees is down 10 percent. In the D.C. suburbs, Maryland's Prince George's and Virginia's Prince William counties have increased their class sizes.

The Local Jobs for America Act allocates $23 billion this year to help states support 250,000 education jobs. And it does a lot more for local communities like funding for firefighters and police.

Teacher job crisis looming

The American Association of School Administrators recently estimated that budget cuts will leave 275,000 educators out of work in the 2010-11 school year. In addition, Dr. Lawrence Mishel of the Economic Policy Institute estimates that for every 100,000 education jobs lost, 30,000 jobs will be lost in other sectors because of the lost spending by schools and the laid-off educators.  A loss of 275,000 education jobs would translate into more than 82,000 job cuts in other industries.

Committee Chairman Miller: “Teacher layoffs threaten our economic recovery and long-term stability at every level. Our teachers can’t afford to lose their jobs, our children can’t afford to lose a year of learning, and our nation can’t afford to stall the progress we’ve made to get our economy back on track.”

Watch Chairman Miller speak about investing in education jobs through the Local Jobs for America Act at a press event:



Local Jobs for America Act can help

The Local Jobs for America Act, introduced earlier this year, would invest $75 billion directly in local communities to save and create jobs in both the public and private sectors and restore vital services that families rely on.  The bill also includes an additional $24 billion investment to support 250,000 education-related jobs, including teachers, janitors, cafeteria workers, guidance counselors and principals.


In related news: yesterday, on National Teacher Day, the Committee held a hearing to examine how to best support teachers and leaders in schools. Studies show that teachers are the single most important factor in affecting student achievement.

CNN reports that more than 80% of school districts to cut jobs. According to the article, "a total of 275,000 education jobs are expected to be cut in 2011." The Local Jobs for America Act contains $23 billion this year to help states support 250,000 education jobs. It also contains $75 billion over two years to local communities to hire vital staff, funding for 50,000 on-the-job private-sector training positions, $1.18 billion to put 5,500 law enforcement officers on the beat and $500 million to retain, rehire, and hire firefighters, plus many other benefits.

Read the entire article at CNNMoney.com or after the jump.

UPDATED: The American Association of School Administrators have posted their report. According to the press release, "Cutting 275,000 education jobs would deal a devastating blow to public education and will have a negative effect on economic recovery. Dr. Lawrence Mishel of the Economic Policy Institute told AASA, ‘Every 100,000 education jobs lost will be roughly 30,000 jobs lost in other sectors due to the lost spending by schools and those laid off.’"

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee released the following statement after the House Science and Technology Committee voted last night to update and reauthorize the America COMPETES Act. Among other things, the COMPETES Act seeks to boost America’s competitiveness by strengthening the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.

While the recovery looks stronger than expected, it is still uneven. The LA Times reported on how cities are feeling the economic pinch.

Cities — while facing increased demands for services — have seen their tax revenues continue to decline because of persistent high unemployment, home foreclosures and reduced state aid.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has proposed as many as 750 layoffs — on top of 105 pink slips this year — to help make up for a projected $485-million shortfall. San Jose is looking at reducing its municipal workforce to its lowest level in two decades.

"We're now beginning to see cities cut fire and police services," Loveridge said. "The pain is real."

...

Concerned that a wave of municipal layoffs could set back the nation's economic recovery, congressional Democrats are pushing a $100-billion bill that would provide $75 billion in federal aid to help cities and counties preserve jobs.

The bill, which has gained 151 cosponsors in the House, also provides an additional $23 billion to help preserve teachers' jobs. Most of the remainder would go to aid police and fire departments.

"Without help, an ongoing local government fiscal crisis could well undercut the nation's recovery," Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge, president of the National League of Cities, told a congressional committee recently.

The Wall Street Journal notes that some municipalities are cutting back on police departments. These budget cuts risk putting the public in danger. The Local Jobs for America Act would help back fill some of the areas cities and counties have had to cut.

The Vacaville Reporter notes that Rep. Miller is aiming to save teacher jobs currently on the chopping block due to these cutbacks.

"Teacher layoffs threaten our economic recovery and long-term stability at every level. This is a serious problem in my district and in the districts of my colleagues and it deserves serious attention," he stated in a press release. "Our teachers can't afford to lose their jobs, our children can't afford to lose a year of learning and our nation can't afford to stall the progress we've made to get our economy and our children's education back on track."

Miller has proposed directing $23 billion in federal dollars to local schools to help make up for state and local budget shortfalls.

The "Education Jobs" funding would be directed to California and then passed on to local school districts across the state using already established state funding formulas. This is the same infrastructure as the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, established under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Miller noted.

While the stock market and the jobs reports are beginning to gain steam, local governments are still struggling with a lack of funds. The New York Times reported this morning that Districts Warn of Deeper Teacher Cuts:

School districts around the country, forced to resort to drastic money-saving measures, are warning hundreds of thousands of teachers that their jobs may be eliminated in June.

The districts have no choice, they say, because their usual sources of revenue — state money and local property taxes — have been hit hard by the recession.

The Washington Post noted that the recession could result in deep school staff layoffs, larger class sizes:

This month, the American Association of School Administrators reported that two-thirds of members surveyed cut positions this school year and 90 percent expect to do so in the coming year. The survey of 453 administrators also found that 62 percent anticipated raising class size, 34 percent were considering cancellation of summer school and 13 percent were weighing the possibility of a four-day school week.

The National Education Association, a teachers union with 3.2 million members, counts 26,000 teachers in jeopardy of layoffs in California, 20,000 in Illinois, 13,000 in New York, 8,000 in Michigan and 6,000 in New Jersey.

Even when jobs are saved there is a steep price. Los Angeles officials decided to avert about 2,000 layoffs by cutting five days from the academic calendar. But the city's school workforce is hemorrhaging nonetheless.

These sorts of cuts are why more than 300 local, state and national groups from 43 states are urging passage of the Local Jobs for America Act.

CongressDaily reports ($):

More than 300 local, state and national groups from 43 states are urging House Democratic leaders to consider legislation introduced last month by House Education and Labor Chairman George Miller that would provide about $100 billion in aid to state and local governments to help prevent layoffs.

"We support quick passage of the Local Jobs for America Act to immediately put Americans back to work, in addition to meeting pressing needs in our communities," the letter said. "We need bold congressional action in order to put Americans back to work and prevent more layoffs and cuts in crucial services. [The Miller bill] will not only provide employment for hundreds of thousands of jobless workers, it will create and save jobs for workers who are providing services that our communities badly need."

Signatories to the letter include the American Federation of Government Employees; the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; the American Federation of Teachers, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. It was dated Friday, but released Monday.

The measure would provide $75 billion over two years that would go directly to eligible communities and nonprofit community organizations. The funds would also be used for salaries for 50,000 on-the-job private-sector training positions, "so local business can put people back to work in the local economies," Miller said upon introducing the bill.

The legislation would also provide $23 billion this year to help states support 250,000 education jobs, another $1.18 billion to put 5,500 law enforcement officers on the beat and an additional $500 million to retain, rehire and hire firefighters.

Learn more about the Local Jobs for America Act and estimates on how many jobs would be created or saved in local communities.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Education and Labor Committee today released estimates on how many jobs would be created or saved in local communities by the Local Jobs for America Act (H.R. 4812), legislation that would create jobs quickly in both the public and private sectors and help restore vital services that families rely on. The bill has 145 cosponsors to date. 

The Local Jobs for America Act would create jobs quickly in both the public and private sectors and help restore vital services that families rely on.  For estimates on how many jobs would be created or saved in local communities, and for funding estimates, click here.

NOTE: These are estimates only based on available and current data and may not reflect exact allocations.

Supporters of the Local Jobs for America Act (H.R. 4812):

9to5 National Association of Working Women
Action for Boston Community Development, Inc.      
Adrian Dominican Sisters    
African American Ministers in Action
Alaska Center for Public Policy
Alaska Works Partnerships
Alexandria Economic Opportunity Commission
Alivio Medical Center
Alliance for Children and Families    
Alliance for Disabled in Action
Alliance to Develop Power, Massachusetts   
America's Promise Alliance  
American Association of University Women (AAUW)   
American Community Partnership    
American Federation of Government Employees    
American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations    
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees  
American Federation of Teachers   
American Friends Service Committee  
American Rights at Work   
American's Friends Service Committee     
Americans for Democratic Action, Inc
Americans for Financial Reform
AMOS (A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy)
AMOS Project
ARC Group Homes, Inc.   
Arc of Hilo 
ARISE Chicago 
Arizona Advocacy Network
Arkansas Interfaith Alliance
Arkansas Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice
Ashley Swearengin, Mayor, City of Fresno, CA
Asian American Justice Center  
Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs   
Augustinians, Province of St. Thomas of Villanova
Bailey House
Big Island Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc.
Board of Mahoning County Commissioners
Brooklyn AIDS Task Force
Calexico Community Action Council, Inc.   
California Church IMPACT
California Partnership
California Resources and Training
Calumet Project
Campaign for America's Future    
Campaign for Community Change
Casa de Esperanza 
Casa de Maryland 
Casa Freehold
Casa Guanajuato Quad Cities
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio
Catholic Charities of New York
Catholic Charities USA
Center for American Progress Action Fund  
Center for Community Change
Center for Law and Social Policy   
Center for Working Life 
Center Interfaith Coalition for Worker Justice
Change to Win
Chicago Jobs Council  
Chicago Political Economy Group  
Chicago Workers' Collaborative      
Chicago's Coalition for the Homeless
Chicano Federation of San Diego County
Children's Alliance     
Children's Network of Solano County
Choanoke Area Development Association of NC, Inc.
Church Women United
Cincinnati Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice
Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center
CitiWide Harm Reduction   
Citizen Action/Illinois 
Citizen Action of New York 
Citizen Action of Wisconsin
City of Concord, CA
City of Easton, PA
City of Sacramento
City of Walnut Creek, CA
Claire Heureuse Community Center, Inc.
Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice 
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles 
Coalition for Welfare Rights of NYC  
Coalition of Labor Union Women     
Coalition on Human Needs
Collaborative Center for Justice 
Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, a project of the Colorado Center on Law and Policy
Colorado Progressive Action
Colorado Progressive Coalition 
Comite de Padres Unidos (San Francisco, CA) 
Committee of Interns and Residents  
Common Cause NY    
Communications Workers of America District 1     
Community Action Partnership
Community Concepts, Inc.
Community HousingWorks       
Community Organizations in Action
Community Voices Heard  
Congressional Black Caucus
Congressional Progressive Caucus 
Connecticut Association for Human Services      
Connecticut Citizen Action Group 
Connecticut Puerto Rican Forum
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of the YWCA (El Paso Del Norte, TX)
Contact Center    
Corps Network
Council of New Jersey State College Locals, AFT/AFL-CIO
Creative Learning Center
CWA Local 1081     
DC Employment Justice Center  
Delaware Opportunities, Inc.        
Demos 
Dignity Housing  
Direct Action Welfare Group, Inc     
Direct Care Alliance
Dominican Sisters 
Dress for Success Hudson County         
Drum Major Institute for Public Policy 
Eastmont Community Center   
Economic Opportunity Institute     
Economic Policy Institute 
El Centro, Inc.
El Comite de Longmont
Empire State Coalition of Youth and Family Services    
Employee Rights Advocacy Institute For Law and Policy     
Enterprise Community Partners  
Farmworker Association of Florida, Inc.  
First Focus Campaign for Children 
Florida Consumer Action Network    
Food Research and Action Center     
Franciscan Action Network
Frente Común Latinos del Norte de Portland
Gadea Ministries, Inc.
Georgia Chapter African American Lutheran Association      
Georgia Rural Urban Summit 
Good Work
Got Green 
Granite State Organizing Project      
Grass Roots Organizing 
Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition   
Green for All     
Gulf Area Training Enterprises, LLC     
Half in Ten
Harvest America Corporation
Head Start of Prince William County Schools
Health Professionals and Allied Employees, AFT/AFL-CIO
Healthy South Chicago
Hispanic Coalition
HoLa
HOPES CAP, Inc. 
Housing and Education Alliance  
Houston Area Urban League
Houston READ Commission
Howard Area Employment Resource Center
Human Services Coalition of Oregon  
Hunger Action Network of NYS   
Idaho Community Action Network      
Idaho State AFL-CIO
Illinois Latino Resource Institute
Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition 
Imperial Valley College       
Insight Center for Community Economic Development
Instituto de Educacion Popular del Sur de California (IDEPSCA)
Instituto del Progreso Latino
Intercommunity Housing Association
Interfaith Coalition for Worker Justice of South Central Wisconsin        
Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice of San Diego County 
Interfaith Council on Economics and Justice   
Interfaith Worker Justice
Interfaith Worker Justice of East Tennessee     
Interfaith Worker Justice Committee of Colorado      
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Iowa Citizen Action Network      
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement      
Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
Islamic Society of North America
Japanese American Citizens League 
Jesuit Social Research Institute, Loyola University New Orleans    
JEVS Human Services        
Jewish Council for Public Affairs     
Jewish Labor Committee
Jobs for America Now Coalition 
Jobs for Youth Chicago      
Jobs with Justice 
Kentucky Equal Justice Center
Keystone Progress
La Casa de Esperanza, Inc.
La Fe Policy Research and Education Center 
La Fuerza Unida, Inc.
La Plaza
La Union/UCL, Inc.
Larry Gilbert, Mayor, Lewiston, ME
Latin American Coalition
Latino Community Foundation (San Francisco, CA) 
Latino Community Network
Latinos and Supporters Advocating for Justice and Advancement          
Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
League of California Cities, Los Angeles County Division
Legion of Mary
LifeWorks NW
Local Economic and Employment Development Council
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa  
Lower East Side Family Union      
Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center
MAAC Project
Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative       
Main Street Alliance
Maine Center for Economic Policy      
Maine Children's Alliance      
Maine People's Alliance      
Maine Women's Lobby
Marie Lopez Rogers, Mayor, Avondale, AZ 
Massachusetts Communities Action Network
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick  
Miami Coalition for the Homeless 
Michigan Citizen Action      
Michigan League for Human Services 
Middle Passage II  
Milton Child Care Center 
Minnesota Citizens for Tax Justice
Minot Area Homeless Coalition  
Missouri Progressive Vote Coalition         
MomsRising     
Mon Valley Unemployed Committee
Ms. Foundation for Women     
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd     
National Association for State Community Services Programs     
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People   
National Association of Counties
National Association of County & City Health Officials
National Association of State Directors of Special Education     
National Community Reinvestment Coalition     
National Council of Jewish Women     
National Council of La Raza     
National Council of Negro Women     
National Council of Women's Organizations    
National Council on Aging
National Education Association     
National Employment Law Project     
National Employment Lawyers Association     
National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce     
National Immigrant Solidarity Network     
National Jobs for All Coalition 
National League of Cities   
National Low Income Housing Coalition     
National Network of Sector Partners     
National Organization for Women     
National Partnership for Women and Families     
National Priorities Project     
National Skills Coalition     
National Urban League     
National WIC Association     
National Women's Law Center
NDPeople.org
Nebraska Appleseed
NETWORK: A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby 
New Economics for Women
New Hampshire Citizens Alliance for Action
NH AFL-CIO      
NH American Friends Service Committee      
NH Working Families Win       
New Jersey Association on Correction      
New Jersey Citizen Action
New Jersey Peace Action    
New Jersey Tenants Organization      
New Jersey's Working Families  
New Labor    
New Mexico Voices for Children
NY State Stimulus Alliance      
NYC AIDS Housing Network 
NC Justice Center
Nicetown CDC
North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition
North Dallas Chapter of the National Organization for Women   
Northeast Ohio Alliance for Hope   
Northwest Federation of Community Organizations
Nutrition and Health Associates 
Ocean State Action       
Ohio Empowerment Coalition  
Open Door Ministry
Oregon Action
Organization of the NorthEast
Ounce of Prevention Fund            
Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute
Parent Voices of Sonoma County
Parenting Life Skills Center       
PathStone
Pathways PA
Pax Christi (New York)
Pax Christi Northeast Florida
PennAction
People For the American Way
Perceptions for People with Disabilities Positive Health Project, Inc.
Peruvians in Action!
Policy Matters Ohio
PolicyLink
Pro Action of Steuben and Yates, Inc. 
Programa de Apoyo y Enlace Comunitario (PAEC)     
Progressive Future
Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada   
Progressive Maryland       
Progressive States Network
ProgressOhio
Project Community, Inc. 
Promesa Systems, Inc.
Proyecto Cultural
Public Justice Center
Racine Dominican Justice Outreach Office      
Restaurant Opportunities Center of Chicago
Restaurant Opportunities Center of Detroit    
Restaurant Opportunities Center Los Angeles
Restaurant Opportunities Center of Maine     
Restaurant Opportunities Center of Miami
Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York          
Restaurant Opportunities Centers United
Restaurant Opportunities Center of Washington, DC          
RESULTS
Rio Hondo College     
SAG Talent Unions
St. Ambrose of Woodbury Social Justice Committee
St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church
St. Joseph Parish      
Saint Joseph Valley Project of Northern Indiana
St. Monica Catholic Church of Indianapolis
St. Pius Youth               
Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law
School Sisters of St. Francis
SER Jobs for Progress, Inc.
Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley
Senior Community Outreach Services   
Service Employees International Union     
Simon Publications     
Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Justice Team
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province
Sisters of the Presentation
SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center      
South Carolina Fair Share         
South Florida AFL-CIO      
South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice   
South Jersey Gray Panthers  
Southern Echo, Inc.
Southwest Housing
Southwest Organizing Project in Albuquerque 
Spanish Speaking Citizens' Foundation
Stopping Woman Abuse Now      
Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice
Syracuse United Neighbors
Tejano Center for Community Concerns
Tennessee Alliance for Progress      
Tennessee Citizen Action
The Center for Hispanic Policy and Advocacy (CHisPA)         
The Employee Rights Advocacy Institute For Law and Policy
The Interfaith Council on Economics and Justice     
The Opportunity Agenda     
The United States Conference of Mayors
Tobacco Valley Food Pantry
Toledo Area Jobs with Justice Coalition and Interfaith Worker Justice      
Tradeswomen Now and Tomorrow     
U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce 
United Action Connecticut   
United Action for Idaho        
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries     
United Food and Commercial Workers     
United for a Fair Economy     
United Neighborhood Centers of America  
United Passaic Organization      
United Progress, Inc.
United States Conference of Mayors  
United States Student Association     
United Steelworkers
United Way of Beaver County  
Urban League of Hudson County     
Ursulines of Tildonk for Justice and Peace  
USAction
V Dove-Coleman Foundation
Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corp.
Victoria Foundation 
Virginia Organizing Project
Voces de la Frontera     
Voices of Community Advocates and Leaders 
Washington Community Action Network 
West Virginia Citizen Action Group   
Western North Carolina Worker's Center        
Wider Opportunities for Women  
Women at Work   
Women Employed     
Women of Reform Judaism
Women's Law Project      
Women's Research and Education Institute     
Woodstock Institute
Workers Interfaith Network
Workers' Rights Center in Madison, Wisconsin           
Working America
Working Families Win
Wyoming Coalition for the Homeless City  
YouthBuild USA
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago 
YWCA NorthEastern NY 

U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today after the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that 162,000 jobs were created in March, the largest monthly job gain in three years. Excluding the expected bump in temporary census hiring, private sector hiring was still the highest last month since the recession began.

“Today’s news that our nation created the most jobs in three years is a sign that our efforts are helping to move our economy in the right direction. When President Obama first inherited this crisis, our economy was losing around 700,000 jobs a month. Today’s figures reflect what private sector economists have told us: that the Recovery Act has increased economic activity and is helping to restore confidence in families and businesses.

“But, we are not out of the woods yet. All across the country, local communities are announcing layoffs of thousands of teachers, public safety officers and other vital personnel because of tight budgets. These layoffs threaten to reverse today’s positive economic report and stall the real progress we are making. House Democrats and a bipartisan group of mayors introduced legislation to create one million public and private sector jobs to help restore vital services that families and local communities rely on.”

The US economy continues to improve under the stewardship of President Obama and the Democratic Congress. The jobs report is further evidence the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is putting people back to work.

As Chairman Miler said, “Today’s news that our nation created the most jobs in three years is a sign that our efforts are helping to move our economy in the right direction. When President Obama first inherited this crisis, our economy was losing around 700,000 jobs a month. Today’s figures reflect what private sector economists have told us: that the Recovery Act has increased economic activity and is helping to restore confidence in families and businesses.

“But, we are not out of the woods yet. All across the country, local communities are announcing layoffs of thousands of teachers, public safety officers and other vital personnel because of tight budgets. These layoffs threaten to reverse today’s positive economic report and stall the real progress we are making. House Democrats and a bipartisan group of mayors introduced legislation to create one million public and private sector jobs to help restore vital services that families and local communities rely on.”

According to the Associated Press, employers added the most jobs in 3 years in March. The jobs report said:

The Labor Department said employers added 162,000 jobs in March, the most since the recession began but below analysts' expectations of 190,000. The total includes 48,000 temporary workers hired for the U.S. Census, also fewer than many economists forecast.

Private employers added 123,000 jobs, the most since May 2007.

There are 15 million Americans out of work. More Americans entered the work force last month, which prevented the increase in jobs from reducing the unemployment rate.

Manufacturers added 17,000 jobs, the third straight month of gains. Temporary help services added 40,000, while health care added 37,000. Leisure and hospitality added 22,000.

Even the beleaguered construction industry added 15,000 positions, though that likely reflects a rebound from February, when major snowstorms may have kept many construction workers off payrolls.

The average work week increased to 34 hours from 33.9, a positive sign. Most employers are likely to work current employees longer before they hire new workers.

The department also revised January's job total to show a gain of 14,000, up from a previously reported loss of 26,000. February's job numbers were also revised higher by 22,000 to show a loss of 14,000. The economy has now added jobs in three months since the recession began in December 2007.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With states and municipalities facing more potential layoffs amidst budget squeezes, today House Democrats and a bipartisan group of mayors announced new legislation to create one million public and private sector jobs in local communities. (Listen to the audio of the press conference call introducing the legislation here.)

The Local Jobs for America Act, authored by U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), will save and create jobs quickly in both the public and private sectors and help restore vital services that families and local communities rely on. The financial collapse is forcing states and municipalities to cut jobs that are critically important to local communities – teachers, police, firefighters, childcare workers, and others.

$75 billion for 750,000 jobs providing needed local services

$52.5 billion directly to communities with at least 50,000 residents – Mayors, County Officials and Governors would submit a statement to the need for the specific positions to the Department of Labor. The department would then distribute funding to communities based on the Community Development Block Grant formula.

Half of the funding will go to positions that would be eliminated due to ongoing budget shortfalls. Up to 25 percent of the funding can go to non-profit community organizations that provide services not customarily provided by local government employees. The remaining 25 percent may be used for creation of new jobs in local government.

$22.5 billion directly to governors to distribute to communities with fewer than 50,000 residents – Job creation funding will sent to towns, counties, or private non-profits outside of those communities eligible for the funding above. Local governments will apply to the governor for the funding.

Like support to larger communities, half of the funding may be spent on retention of positions slated for elimination, up to 25 percent of the funding can go to non-profit community organizations that provide services not customarily provided by local government employees. The remaining 25 percent may be used for creation of new jobs in local government. The governor must fairly distribute the funding among congressional districts, in proportion to each district’s rural population.

Funds may only be used for compensation of full-time, full-year positions.  “Full-year” defined to include school year positions. Local governments may expand existing services or restore services cut in the past five years. Positions are federally funded for two years.

Jobs are regular government or local community organization jobs. These jobs will be in pre-existing job titles, covered by union contracts, etc. Mayors and County Officials are not required to continue funding these positions once federal funding expires. Priority will be given to hire workers laid off from city positions, current unemployment insurance recipients and the long-term unemployed whose benefits have been exhausted.

$23 billion to help states support an estimated 300,000 education jobs; $1.18 billion to put 5,500 law enforcement officers on the beat; and $500 million to hire and retain fire fighters

These funds will be allocated by states to school districts and public institutions of higher education to retain or create jobs to provide educational services and to modernize, renovate, and repair public education facilities. Funding will be distributed the state fiscal stabilization fund formula as passed in the Recovery Act. States would then distribute funding to school districts based on each state’s education funding formula.

$500 million for approximately 50,000 additional on-the-job training positions slots to help private business expand employment

These funds will enable workers to acquire core job skills and important work experience for private employers.  Individuals will be able to earn a salary and learn a new job through the Workforce Investment Act.  Participants will gain core job skills and experience through training and close supervision by their employer.  

CNNMoney notes today that state and local governments are facing a very difficult budget year. Faced with declining revenue, some local municipalities and states are looking to cut their workforce.

State and local governments are collectively the nation's biggest source of jobs, together employing almost 15 times as many Americans as Wal-Mart.

They added 2 million jobs over the past decade and helped to cushion the shock of the Great Recession by holding employment steady since the end of 2007, a time when the private sector was hemorrhaging 8.5 million jobs.

But another ugly state budget season is coming up, which will mean more belt-tightening for local governments -- and another source of pressure for an already anemic jobs market recovery.

...

Layoffs aren't the first choice of governments seeking to balance their budgets. A survey conducted late last year by the Center for State and Local Government Excellence found two-thirds of respondents had stopped hiring and almost as many had put a freeze on raises. Less than half had resorted to job cuts, however.

But the size of budget shortfalls is making cuts inevitable. A thousand state workers in South Carolina could lose their jobs if the legislature enacts a pending budget proposal, the Columbia State reported. Cutbacks are pending in Virginia, Georgia and many other states.

To help state and local municipalities deal with some of these budget shortfalls, Chairman Miller along with other members of Congress and a bipartisan group of mayors introduced new legislation that will create up to one million public and private sector jobs. The financial collapse is forcing states and municipalities to cut jobs that are critically important to local communities – teachers, police, firefighters, childcare workers, and others – cuts that threaten to derail America’s economic recovery. The bill also contains innovative job creation strategies that will help hundreds of thousands of individuals get private sector jobs.

The bill, which was developed with mayors, county officials and others, will put a million people to work by restoring these services to local communities, in both public and private sector jobs.

Learn more about Chairman Miller's Local Jobs for America Act and watch Chairman Miller on CNBC explaining the importance of this bill.

Update: After the bill was rolled out, the Economic Policy Institute applauded the Local Jobs for America Act.

Helping Local Communities Create and Save A Million Public and Private Jobs

Our nation is going through one of the most difficult economic times in its history.  We must do everything to help create jobs for those who are strug­gling to support their families.  At the same time, the recession is forcing states and municipalities to cut jobs that are critically important – teachers, police, firefighters, childcare workers, and others. The Local Jobs for Amer­ica Act will provide our economy a shot in the arm by putting a million people to work by restoring these services in local communities. (More than 300 organizations support the Local Jobs for America Act.)
 
The Local Jobs for America Act will create and save a million public and private jobs in local communities this year. 
 

Support will be targeted directly to states and municipalities with the greatest number of people out of work to restore important local services. (Estimated funding and estimated jobs created and saved »)

 
The Local Jobs for America Act will help ensure that local com­munities can still operate essential services.
 

Because of the recession, many local communities have cut back on education, public safety, childcare, health care, and transporta­tion. As a result, families who rely on these services are suffering the cost of these cutbacks.

 
This bill will help prevent state and local tax increases. 
 

By supporting the services local communities deem most necessary, the bill will help local governments avoid having to choose between eliminat­ing services and raising taxes.

 
Creating local jobs will stimulate local businesses and create more jobs in the local economy.
 

By increasing employment in local communities, families will be able to start spending again at their neighborhood businesses and favorite restaurants. This will help spur additional jobs for local small businesses.

 
The Local Jobs for America Act will fund salaries for private sector on-the-job training to help local businesses put people back to work.
 
Specifically, the Local Jobs for America Act invests:

• $75 billion over two years to local communities to hire vital staff
• Funding for 50,000 on-the-job private-sector training positions
  

The bill also includes provisions already approved by the House:

• $23 billion this year to help states support 300,000 education jobs
• $1.18 billion to put 5,500 law enforcement officers on the beat
• $500 million to retain, rehire, and hire firefighters
  

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and a key architect of the education pieces of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, issued the following statement today on the law’s one-year anniversary:

This morning, Think Progress reported that 111 Congressional Republicans, including 90 House GOPers, are taking credit for and/or seeking American Recovery and Reinvestment Act benefits for their home districts after voting against ARRA one year ago.

One thing is clear, after a disastrous eight years and a near economic collapse, House Republicans and Democrats agree that There’s an Act for That.

One year ago today, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) was enacted with the goal of keeping our recession from turning into a deeper Depression, and saving and creating jobs. A year later, it’s clear that the Recovery Act pulled our economy back from the brink of financial collapse, protected teachers, policemen, firefighters, and other vital workers from losing their jobs, and made strategic investments in education reforms and worker training that will help lay the groundwork for a long-term economic recovery. Newspapers from coast to coast have documented how the Recovery Act has helped students, workers and families:

STATE	FUNDS AWARDED	RECIPIENT-REPORTED JOBS	EDUCATION JOBS
Alabama	$2,879,946,703	13,871	5,866
Alaska	$1,599,388,595	1,596	268
Arizona	$3,392,939,821	6,811	2,849
Arkansas	$1,584,748,636	2,829	655
California	$21,650,138,095	71,015	49,982
Colorado	$3,229,978,450	9,407	3,900
Connecticut	$1,851,708,850	7,048	3,975
Delaware	$720,689,064	1,523	705
District of Columbia	$3,044,036,584	3,719	661
Florida	$9,094,185,017	34,966	24,055
Georgia	$4,861,526,252	24,103	14,397
Hawaii	$1,007,797,512	3,014	2,083
Idaho	$1,858,250,061	6,160	4,057
Illinois	$7,805,527,172	11,375	2,602
Indiana	$4,153,669,041	15,278	12,046
Iowa	$2,059,557,824	9,096	6,203
Kansas	$1,565,844,902	6,561	3,883
Kentucky	$2,511,040,050	10,677	7,381
Louisiana	$2,515,219,042	11,322	7,023
Maine	$889,318,291	2,182	336
Maryland	$4,680,473,252	6,759	1,467
Massachusetts	$4,713,047,794	9,261	3,215
Michigan	$7,319,327,513	20,140	9,313
Minnesota	$2,978,457,783	12,291	6,952
Mississippi	$2,071,100,200	3,412	602
Missouri	$3,390,575,173	16,074	11,462
Montana	$1,162,870,408	4,121	1,579
Nebraska	$1,079,872,241	3,849	1,703
Nevada	$1,427,100,987	3,149	2,005
New Hampshire	$824,716,551	1,295	261
New Jersey	$4,582,612,624	21,512	15,907
New Mexico	$2,223,479,041	4,582	2,373
New York	$12,373,720,643	43,061	30,157
North Carolina	$5,437,207,212	26,119	19,039
North Dakota	$885,135,966	2,698	1,613
Ohio	$6,445,027,536	24,705	11,881
Oklahoma	$2,329,598,907	7,999	4,903
Oregon	$2,241,634,383	9,657	5,623
Pennsylvania	$6,816,672,122	12,238	2,661
Rhode Island	$794,028,907	1,345	194
South Carolina	$5,765,646,903	11,024	4,947
South Dakota	$950,346,898	3,244	602
Tennessee	$5,941,032,774	10,259	3,749
Texas	$12,423,955,147	28,460	18,577
Utah	$1,761,439,655	4,740	1,955
Vermont	$624,753,124	1,624	294
Virginia	$4,319,924,264	9,877	5,079
Washington	$7,867,066,655	14,413	5,464
West Virginia	$1,480,743,335	2,195	641
Wisconsin	$2,948,665,736	10,316	4,338
Wyoming	$562,557,420	851	18
TERRITORY	FUNDS AWARDED	RECIPIENT-REPORTED JOBS	EDUCATION JOBS
Northern Mariana Islands	$84,398,311	138	55
Puerto Rico	$2,340,754,806	14,506
TOTAL	$199,662,327,231	599,108

Note: “Funds Awarded” includes federal contract, grant, and loan awards for individual states and territories, as reported by prime recipients for the period February 17-December 31, 2009. “Recipient-Reported Jobs”covers the period October 1-December 31, 2009.
Source: recovery.gov 

“Education Jobs” are reported from the Department of Education for the period October 1-December 31, 2009, and include jobs such as teachers, principals, librarians, and counselors. Source: Department of Education

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today after the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the nation’s unemployment rate fell from 10.0 percent in December to 9.7 in January.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis told the House Education and Labor Committee today that the U.S. Department of Labor is both helping the economy recover and improving American workers’ lives by strengthening basic workplace protections, and training workers for new and better jobs.

Today, the USA Today has an exclusive quarterly survey of 50 economists that found:

President Obama's stimulus package saved jobs — but the government still needs to do more to breathe life into the economy."

Unemployment would have hit 10.8% — higher than December's 10% rate — without Obama's $787 billion stimulus program, according to the economists' median estimate. The difference would translate into another 1.2 million lost jobs.

But almost two-thirds of the economists said the government should do more to spur job growth. Suggestions included suspending payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare, increasing spending on infrastructure, enacting a flat tax on income and extending jobless benefits.

That is why the House passed the Jobs for Main Street Act in December, this "jobs bill" would, among other things, provide:

• $23 billion to save an estimated 250,000 education jobs over the next two years;
• $41 billion to extend for six months expanded unemployment benefits, including increased payouts and longer duration of benefits;
• $12.3 billion to extend from nine to 15 months the 65 percent COBRA premium support for individuals who have lost their jobs. In addition, the bill extends eligibility through June 30, 2010;
• $200 million for AmeriCorps programs and the National Service Trust, to support an additional 25,000 AmeriCorps Members;
• $500 million for summer youth employment programs;
• $300 million to support the College Work Study program, which supports low- and moderate-income undergraduate and graduate students who work while attending college; and
• $750 million for competitive grants to support job training for approximately 150,000 individuals in high growth and emerging industry sectors, particularly in the health care and green industries that are adding jobs despite difficult economic conditions.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Reps. Henry A. Waxman (D-CA), Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), and George Miller (D-CA), the chairmen of the three committees with jurisdiction over health policy in the U.S. House of Representatives, issued the following statement today on a new report released by the Center for American Progress showing that the health reform legislation pending in Congress will significantly lower health care costs for businesses, add as many as 4 million jobs over the next decade, and increase workers’ wages.

Rep. George Miller, chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, speaks passionately about the need to pass the Jobs for Main Street Act on the House floor on December 16, 2009.


Learn more about the Jobs for Main Street Act and how it will create additional jobs for construction workers, teachers, police officers, firefighters and others, and extend critical assistance for the unemployed and people who have lost health insurance.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation today to create urgently needed new jobs for construction workers, teachers, police officers, firefighters and others, and to extend critical assistance for the unemployed and those who have lost health insurance. The Jobs for Main Street Act is the most recent step in Congress’ year-long effort to rescue the economy and stem the crippling impacts of the worst recession in generations.

The Jobs for Main Street Act, passed by the House on December 16, 2009, will create or save jobs here at home with targeted investments ($75 billion) for highways and transit, school renovation, hiring teachers, police, and firefighters, small business, job training and affordable housing – key drivers of economic growth that have the most bang for the buck. These investments are fully paid for by redirecting TARP funds from Wall Street to Main Street. The bill text is now available on the Rules Committee web site»

In addition, the legislation also provides critical safety net funds to extend COBRA premium assistance for people who have lost their health insurance as a result of job loss, as well as unemployment benefits and provide other aid for Americans looking for work.  It also gives assistance to states to pay for Medicaid and for extending the child tax credit.

Fact sheet on the Jobs for Main Street Act »
Bill text »

The House of Representatives is scheduled to consider the Jobs for Main Street Act today, December 16.  The measure will create additional jobs for construction workers, teachers, police officers, firefighters and others, and to extend critical assistance for the unemployed and people who have lost health insurance, the most recent step in Congress’ year-long efforts to rescue the economy and stem the crippling impacts of the worst recession in generations.

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  House Democrats unveiled legislation Tuesday to create additional jobs for construction workers, teachers, police officers, firefighters and others, and to extend critical assistance for the unemployed and people who have lost health insurance, the most recent step in Congress’ year-long efforts to rescue the economy and stem the crippling impacts of the worst recession in generations.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today after the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that 11,000 jobs were lost in November and the unemployment rate fell to 10 percent, the best monthly jobs report since December 2007.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the followed statement today on President Obama’s White House Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth.

On Tuesday, December 8, the House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing to learn more about states’ efforts to help improve the nation’s competitiveness by adopting a common core of college and career readiness standards. To date, 48 states have joined the initiative.

WHAT:          
Full Committee Hearing on “Improving Our Competitiveness: Common Core Education Standards”

WHO:            
The Honorable Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor of Colorado
Gene Wilhoit, Executive Director, Council of Chief State School Officers, Washington, D.C.
Doug Kubach, President and CEO, Pearson Assessment and Information, San Antonio, TX
Cathy Allen, Vice Chair for the Board of Education at St. Mary’s County Public Schools, Leonardtown, MD
            
WHEN:         
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
10:00 a.m. EST
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »

WHERE:       
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.

Note: This hearing will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website. Access the webcast when the hearing begins » 

Yesterday, the Congressional Budget Office released its report on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s impact on the economy and employment and found that in the third quarter of 2009, because of recovery dollars, 600,000 to 1.6 million more U.S. workers had jobs; Gross Domestic Product was 1.2 percent to 3.2 percent higher; and the unemployment rate was 0.3 to 0.9 percentage points lower than it would have been if no action had been taken. The report also reinforces that the estimates only capture jobs created by direct spending – they do not measure the “spillover effect” of jobs created or saved indirectly due to higher incomes or increased demand for goods and services.

Chairman George Miller, a key architect of the education investments in ARRA, said, “This report leaves no doubt that the economy would be in much worse shape if the Recovery Act had not been implemented: up to 1.6 million fewer Americans would have jobs, unemployment would be higher, and GDP would be lower. As the Obama administration and Congress continue to explore additional strategies to create jobs and build a foundation for long-term economic growth, it is critical to acknowledge the progress that has already been made as a result of these policies – and that our economy was rescued from the brink of what could have been an even more devastating catastrophe. This snapshot offers encouraging signs – but is also a reminder that we still have a long road ahead to continue growing jobs, reviving our economy, and helping every worker and family feeling the very deep pain of this crisis.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ensuring workers have access to paid sick leave can help slow the spread of highly contagious illnesses like the H1N1 flu virus, witnesses told the House Education and Labor Committee today. By giving workers access to paid sick leave, employees will not be forced to choose between losing pay and infecting co-workers and the public.

Due to the off-site location of this hearing, there will be no webcast, photos or videos.

The Wall Street Journal's Blog highlights our hearing from on economic opportunities for young Americans last week.

The unemployment rate for 16 to 19-year-olds hit 25.9% in September, the highest rate recorded since at least 1948 (the earliest data the Labor Department supplies).

Lately, their plight hasn’t been falling on deaf ears. The House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing earlier this week to address low unemployment among young people.

“Indeed, because of the horrible economy, younger workers are now competing with more experienced workers for positions traditionally [in] the domain of the young and less experienced,” Rep. George Miller, a California Democrat and the committee chairman, said according to prepared remarks. “Until the economy as a whole turns around, younger workers will continue to be hit the hardest.”

While there are big concerns about unemployment and underemployment for young Americans, there is a silver lining.

At least things don’t appear to be getting worse for the 20-somethings lately. The unemployment rate for 20 to 24-year-olds dropped to a still-high 14.9% in September. It’s the second month the group’s unemployment rate decreased.

We encourage you to read the entire blog post, as well as view the testimony from the hearing, visit the hearing page and view the pictures.

WASHINGTON – While the current economic crisis has driven youth unemployment to historic highs, witnesses told the House Education and Labor Committee today that falling youth employment is part of a much longer trend that needs to be addressed.

“The recession has only made a bad situation worse for younger workers. Even in periods of economic stability, fewer young people do not make the transition to the workforce.  They face challenges completing high school and obtaining the skills they need to succeed,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the committee. “For these young people, alternative education and job training models provide a critical link to the workplace.”

Today, the House Education and Labor will eold a hearing to examine the impact on declining rate of youth employment and strategies to ensure that there are economic opportunities available for young Americans.

While the recession has disproportionately impacted young adults, the employment rate among 16 to 24 year-olds has steadily declined by nearly 20 percent over the past decade to its lowest level since World War II. The consequences of reduced work opportunities among young Americans results in fewer long-term employment prospects, less earnings and a decrease in productivity.

The hearing page has a complete list of all witnesses, testimony, statements, videos, photos and an archived webcast.

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. George Miller (D-CA) released the following statement calling on  the House to approve the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, one of President Obama’s top domestic priorities.

“Passage will represent a monumental step forward in our effort to build a vibrant and green economy based on clean energy, less foreign oil, and a reduction in greenhouse gases,” said Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the Education and Labor Committee and one of the co-authors of the energy bill. “Californians have led the nation in breaking our dependence on fossil fuels and have always known that the future belongs to clean energy technology jobs.  It is long past time for us to stop sending our national treasure to pay for foreign oil. This bill gives us the opportunity to follow California’s lead and move America in a new energy direction.

On Friday, May 29, the House Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness held a hearing to examine best practices for improving job training.This is the fifth hearing the committee is holding as it works toward reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act, which provides job training, education programs, vocational rehabilitation and other services to Americans.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today hailed the Obama administration for taking steps to expand access to college and other education and job training programs for workers who have lost their jobs. President Obama announced this effort as today’s April jobs report showed the U.S. economy lost 593,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate shot to 8.9 percent.

“As we continue working to turn our economy around, we have to do everything we can to help the millions of Americans who have suffered job losses in this recession get the education, training and skills they need to return to the workforce. President Obama’s initiatives are commonsense steps that will make college and training programs more accessible and affordable for laid-off workers by allowing them to enroll in postsecondary education without forfeiting their unemployment benefits. In addition, it’s critical that he reminded financial aid officers that they can adjust financial aid packages based on recent layoffs, so families aren’t paying for college based on incomes they no longer earn.

On Tuesday, May 5, the House Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness held a hearing to examine best practices for improving adult education and family literacy. This is the fourth hearing the committee is holding as it works toward reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act, which provides job training, education programs, vocational rehabilitation and other services to Americans.

(This is a guest blog post by Rep. Paul Tonko, Education and Labor Committee Member.)

As we celebrate Earth Day for the 39th year – by volunteering in our local areas through our own individual efforts and raising awareness globally – we must all do our part.  This year represents a great opportunity for all of us to ensure a cleaner, safer and greener environment.  We can and we must achieve these ends.  A major component of shifting our economy from one that pollutes, relies on carbon based fuels and approaches problem solving from an antiquated angle is no longer acceptable.  We must all go beyond the traditional “Think Globally, Act Locally” mantra to curb our environmental impacts.  We can act personally by lowering our thermostats, using compact fluorescent bulbs and weatherizing our homes.  We can act locally by creating no idle zones, making our cities and towns more pedestrian friendly and driving energy efficient vehicles.  We can act regionally by building on mass transit, supporting high speed rail initiatives and thinking more strategically.  We can act nationally by passing a cap and trade bill, supporting improved efficiency measures and catalyzing a green energy work force.

Here in Congress we have taken the first steps towards greening our workforce through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Investing in the green economy and green jobs will not only improve the environment and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, but will also help spur long-term economic growth, witnesses told the Workforce Protections Subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee.  

“Green industry, green technology and green jobs are our future, and will play a key role in our economic recovery,” said U.S. Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), chair of the subcommittee. “I am confident that if we stay on course and encourage American ingenuity and innovation, we can emerge from this national recession stronger than we were before.”

On Tuesday, March 31, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections of the House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing to examine green jobs and their role in our nation’s economic recovery. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act set aside $50 billion in grants and tax incentives to promote energy efficiency and the renewable energy sector. Congress also approved the Green Jobs Act in 2007, a program to help train American workers for jobs in the renewable energy and energy-efficiency industries.

On Tuesday, March 31, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections of the House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing to examine green jobs and their role in our nation’s economic recovery. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act set aside $50 billion in grants and tax incentives to promote energy efficiency and the renewable energy sector. Congress also approved the Green Jobs Act in 2007, a program to help train American workers for jobs in the renewable energy and energy-efficiency industries.

The Akron Beacon Journal had an op-ed from Larry Thompson, owner of Thompson Electric, about how the Employee Free Choice Act is good for business and good for workers.

Thompson Electric is proof that unions are good for workers and good for business. Our positive, long-term partnership with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers is one of the main reasons that I, as an entrepreneur and business owner, support passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. More workers across the United States should be given a free and fair chance to form a union, just like our employees.

Our union workers receive the most cutting-edge job training available, and it pays off through lower injury rates, increased productivity and a strengthened ability to serve the people of Ohio. The union difference is not only impressive, but a valuable commodity in our line of work.

Mr. Thompson makes a fine argument that businesses and communities benefit with higher paid and higher skilled workers and, thus, the Employee Free Choice Act is needed to reform current law. We encourage you to read the entire op-ed.

This is the third in a series of hearings the House Education and Labor Committee is holding to examine innovative strategies for improving job training and education for America’s workers as it works toward reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Now more than ever, the nation’s job training programs must be improved to give workers the skills and training they will need as the economy starts to recover, witnesses told the House Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and Competitiveness Subcommittee today. Today’s hearing was the second in a series of hearings the Education and Labor Committee is holding as it works toward reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act.

This is the second in a series of hearings the House Education and Labor Committee is holding to examine innovative strategies for improving job training and education for America’s workers as it works toward reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act.

(This is a guest blog post by Rep. Rubén Hinojosa, chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.)

Last night, the President called on all Americans to commit themselves to one year of college or postsecondary training.  

Last week, the President signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to create or save 3.5 million jobs.

Yet, an estimated 80 – 90 million adults lack the basic education and skills to answer the President’s call or to qualify for the jobs that will be created.

According to a recent analysis by Anthony Carnevale at Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, 54 percent of these jobs will require at least some postsecondary education and high school dropouts will be eligible for only about one- fourth of them.

We will have to call upon our workforce development system that is supported through the workforce investment act to bridge that gap.

Tomorrow, the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and Competitiveness will hold its second hearing on the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act.  We will hear testimony about the innovative ways that our stakeholders in the workforce investment system are working together to create pathways to success for workers who need basic skills development, a high school diploma, or English as a second language to compete and fully participate in a 21st century workforce.

Tune in tomorrow and send us your examples of innovative practices in your community.

Today, February 26th, the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness will hold a second hearing about New Innovations and Best Practices Under the Workforce Investment Act at 10:00 am in 2175 Rayburn House Office Building.  The hearing will be broadcast live here.

Read Subcommittee Chairman Rubén Hinojosa's blog post on the hearing »

Building a Strong, Competitive 21st Century Economy

Economists across the board agree that the key to jumpstarting our economy is putting Americans back to work quickly. Earlier this month major U.S. corporations announced another 75,000 in job cuts, adding to the 2.6 million jobs our economy has lost in the last year.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will start rebuilding our economy immediately by creating or saving 3 to 4 million jobs – including hundreds of thousands of jobs in the education sector – and provide workers with the training and skills they need to succeed in green and other emerging industries. In addition to creating jobs in other sectors of our economy, the following education investments will save or boost job growth:

(This is a guest blog post by Rep. Rubén Hinojosa, chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.)

America’s workers are in dire straits -- 3.6 million jobs have been lost since December 2007, with 598,000 jobs shed last month alone and unemployment surging to 7.6 percent.

Worse, we have failed to provide our workers with the education and skills that would help them weather the storm.  According to the National Commission on Adult Literacy, 80 to 90 million U.S. adults, roughly half of the nation’s workforce, currently lack the basic education and communication skills required for jobs that pay family sustaining wages.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which includes $4 billion for job training to help prepare laid-off, adult, and younger workers for work in emerging industries, is a critical first step toward getting America back to work.

However, our Workforce Investment Act (WIA), which authorizes our job training, adult education, and vocational rehabilitative services programs, is also long overdue for an upgrade. The current authorization expired in 2003, and the law has not been reauthorized since 1998 – when the economy was stronger and we were adding jobs rather than shedding them.

This hearing examined strategies – including investments in rebuilding crumbling infrastructure – to create good-paying jobs in order to put the nation’s stalled economy on the road to recovery. More than 2.2 million American workers have lost their jobs in the past 12 months and millions more are still looking for permanent employment.

On Friday, October 24 at 10:00 a.m., the Committee will hold a hearing examining strategies – including investments in rebuilding crumbling infrastructure – to create good-paying jobs in order to put the nation’s stalled economy on the road to recovery. More than 2.2 million American workers have lost their jobs in the past 12 months and millions more are still looking for permanent employment.

“Building an Economic Recovery Package: Creating and Preserving Jobs in America”
Scheduled on October 24, 2008 at 10 a.m. in room 2175 Rayburn H.O.B.

Following an urgent meeting held by Democratic leaders and top economists in Washington on October 13, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced that House Democrats will begin laying the groundwork for a comprehensive economic recovery and job creation program, including a hearing to be held by the House Education and Labor Committee. Chairman George Miller said the hearing will focus on the nation’s severe unemployment outlook and strategies to spur job growth.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced today that 159,000 jobs were lost in September, the steepest decline in five years and the 9th consecutive month of job losses.

Today’s jobs report highlights the massive destruction that the Bush-Cheney-McCain wrecking ball has done to our economy, workers, and families. Eight years of their misguided policies have culminated in nine straight months of job losses. Two million workers have been unemployed for more than 27 months – 167,000 more than in August. Our nation is now dealing with the largest financial crisis since the Great Depression.

* 1 Member voting present