House Rules Committee Rejects Local Jobs for America Amendment to the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-MI), along with her fellow U.S. Representatives Keith Ellison (D-MN), Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Donna Edwards (D-MD), Marcia Fudge (D-OH), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), and Bobby Rush (D-IL), saw their language, the Local Jobs for America amendment, fail before the House Rules Committee. This amendment to the Emergency Spending Appropriations bill would have authorized 750,000 jobs through direct spending to cities, counties, and community-based organizations to save and create local jobs through the retention, restoration, or expansion of services needed by local communities. “I strongly support this amendment. I am deeply disappointed it was not made in order, and I will continue to work with the sponsor and co-sponsors to get it to the floor of Congress,” said Rules Committee Member Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL).

“I am disappointed, dismayed, and disgusted that Congress refused to allow debate in the people’s house to vote on direct funding for jobs for Americans,” said Congresswoman Kilpatrick.  “President Franklin D. Roosevelt used direct federal funding to cut in half Depression-era unemployment.  Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan used the CETA program, a direct funding federal jobs bill, to reduce unemployment. It is horrible that Congress is unwilling to consider even debating the value of direct funding for jobs to our nation’s cities, counties, qualified non-profit organizations, and states.”

Using Title I of the Local Jobs for America Act, the amendment would authorize $75 billion over two years—approximately 750,000 jobs—to local governments, community based organizations, and states to save and create local jobs. This program would be administered by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The direct funding formula would be based on 50% state unemployment numbers, 25% poverty levels, and 25% based on population. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program would be the level for distribution of funds. Each municipality could use up to 50 percent of funding to retain employees that might otherwise lose their jobs because of budget shortfalls. Up to 25 percent of these funds can be given by a city to local community based organizations to hire employees to provide services or functions not customarily provided by local government employees.

“In the past decade, Congress has approved spending on Emergency Appropriations bills with no offsetting cuts to programs. For the first time in history, Congress has approved Emergency Appropriations for not one but two wars without an offsetting tax increase to pay for those wars.  I supported needed legislation that saved the auto industry and our banking system. Fifteen million unemployed Americans who want to work, the mayors, city councils, and county executives of our nation who are facing layoffs tell us that they need this legislation. It is shameful that when it comes to saving the jobs of the American people, we lack the political courage to do not only what is right, but what is needed NOW,” said Congresswoman Kilpatrick.