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.
Competitive Workforce
Key Legislation:
Local Jobs for America Act »
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act »
Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act (HR5140) »
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.
$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 250,000 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.
State and local governments are collectively the nation's biggest source of jobs, together employing almost 15 times as many Americans as Wal-Mart.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.
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.
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.
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.
The Local Jobs for America Act will create 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.
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, education 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 250,000 education jobs
- $1.18 billion to put 5,500 law enforcement officers on the beat
- $500 million to retain, rehire, and hire firefighters
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.
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
President Obama's stimulus package saved jobs — but the government still needs to do more to breathe life into the economy."That is why the House passed the Jobs for Main Street Act in December, this "jobs bill" would, among other things, provide:
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.
- $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.
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.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement on yesterday’s introduction of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 by U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and other members of Congress.
“Yesterday’s introduction of comprehensive reform by Rep. Gutierrez represents a positive step forward in the debate to fix our nation’s broken immigration system. I am especially pleased that the bill includes the Indentured Servitude Abolition Act, legislation I introduced that would end widely documented abuses of foreign guest workers and hold unscrupulous labor recruiters responsible for the promises they make. I commend Rep. Gutierrez and other members for introducing this bill on a topic of great importance to our nation.”
For more information on the Indentured Servitude Abolition Act, click here.
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 »
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 »
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.”
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.
“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.”
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.
“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.
“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.
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.
“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.”
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.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.
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.
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.
Read Subcommittee Chairman Rubén Hinojosa's blog post on the hearing »
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:
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.
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.
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.