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Federal Jobs Bill Provide for Poor One of the best kept
secrets in Washington is the introduction of HR 950, the Job Creation and Infrastructure Restoration Act of 1997 supported by a coalition of labor unions and a number of local governments including the Los Angeles City Council and
School Board, and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. The bill proposes a national response to the plight of nearly 20% of the American people who live below the poverty line. It would create a three year $25
billion national public works program similar to the one introduced during the Great Depression. The bill, introduced by Matthew Martinez (D-California) has thirty-six co-sponsors, ten of whom are from California.The bill declares, in part, that:
The lack of resources for the maintenance of the national infrastructure [roads, bridges, public buildings, public lands, and other public assets] has led to the loss of both jobs and job skills…with consequent
increased unemployment and a reduction in the quality of life. Federal incentives that are specifically linked to the development of jobs and renewal of important job skills will help reverse the trend
to continued erosion of the Nation's infrastructure. [and that]….Absent a concentrated effort on the part of the Federal Government to create career jobs that provide a living wage, efforts to reform the welfare system are
doomed to failure.
The bill provides for a 90% federal contribution to public works projects of state and local governments until the national unemployment rate falls before 5% for three consecutive months or until September 30,
2001. It includes numerous priorities to govern the distribution of the public works grants based on unemployment rates, need for public works, and other factors. For further information contact your
congressional representatives or the Community Labor Coalition for Public Works Jobs (510) 549-0816. |
