On Friday June 10, 2011, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA-10) announced a bipartisan legislative push to encourage the creation of new manufacturing jobs here in America, strengthen worker training and industry certification programs, and expand U.S. exports.
The Warner/Wolf partnership, launched after the U.S. unemployment rate edged up to 9.1% in May:
“America’s competitors for these solid, good-paying manufacturing jobs are nations like India, China and Korea – countries which have consistently offered generous incentives to attract investment and jobs,” Senator Warner said. “Our legislation provides more tools for states and localities, allowing them to ‘tip the balance’ by providing an additional financial incentive and a trained, qualified workforce as employers are considering where to open new factories and hire new workers.”
This initiative builds upon Sen. Warner’s 2010 America Recruits Act, which establishes additional federal incentives for employers creating new jobs in rural and economically challenged regions of the country. It also incorporates elements of Rep. Wolf’s Bring Jobs Back to America Act, introduced in March 2011, which would start the process of bringing jobs back to America that have relocated overseas during the last two decades.
“I believe that a strong manufacturing and technology development base is critical to job creation and the economic competitiveness of the United States,” Rep. Wolf said. “However, we have been far too slow in responding to our international economic competitors in this era of global markets and competition. This legislation helps to re-focus the United States to be more proactive and a smarter competitor in the global economy - both in the short-term and long-term. We cannot afford to wait. Our international competitors aren’t.“
This Warner/Wolf jobs initiative has been endorsed by leading nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations that promote U.S. innovation, economic competitiveness and new job creation.
New legislation from Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and Representative Frank Wolf (R-VA-10) is aimed at increasing skilled jobs.
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With the unemployment rate having reversed course in May, jumping slightly to 9.1 percent, Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Alexandria, and Rep. Frank R. Wolf, R-Fairfax County, are looking to steal jobs back from abroad. The bipartisan duo has launched an initiative designed to create manufacturing and technology jobs through a forgivable loan program targeted toward rural or economically stressed regions of the country
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Senator Mark Warner and Representative Frank Wolf of Virginia say their bipartisan partnership will create jobs in the country without requiring more government spending. WVTF's Connie Stevens has more on their legislative initiative.