Press Releases

Wilson Introduces "Jobs Now Act of 2011" to Lower Unemployment in Hard-Hit Urban Communities

Wilson: “From Day One, My Focus Has Been Jobs, Jobs, Jobs”

Congresswoman Frederica Wilson today filed H.R. 2574, The Jobs Now Act of 2011. The legislation is a federal direct-hire bill patterned after the highly successful CETA (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) program of the 1970s and 80s. The Act would provide $2 billion in federal funds over two years for immediate job creation through a funding formula going directly to cities, counties and non-profit organizations, with a preference for those cities, such as Miami, with high unemployment, home foreclosures, and poverty.

“From day one, my focus has been jobs, jobs, jobs,” said Congresswoman Wilson. “This common-sense legislation will get people back to work immediately in some of our hardest-hit urban communities. Since they’ve been in charge, the Republicans have refused to bring up one single jobs bills, so it’s time to take matters into our own hands. This bill is just what we need to get people back to work without delay so they can provide for themselves and their families.”

Our nation, especially Florida, suffers from record high unemployment. In May 2011, the unemployment rate in Miami-Dade County was a staggering 13.7%. The unemployment rate in Broward is 9%. On top of that, in a recent Gallup survey, the 17th District of Florida was ranked the most "suffering" district in the nation in terms of well-being.

Despite record low taxes, businesses are still not hiring, particularly in urban communities. The federal government has historically stepped in to provide employment, so these actions are not unprecedented. Like the Works Progress Administration, CETA, and the Workforce Incentive Act, this bill will do one thing: get people back to work.

The Jobs Now Act of 2011 is a temporary, targeted program designed to get people back to work right now. By eliminating the red tape of federal funds going through state bureaucracies, this legislation gives mayors and county executives the flexibility and resources they need to retain, hire, or train workers immediately. At the end of two years, Congress would be required to report on the number of individuals retained, newly-hired, and/or trained.

For cities and counties, The Jobs Now Act of 2011 allows half of funding to go towards retaining current public service employees who are teachers, EMTs, firefighters, doctors, nurses, police officers, psychologists, and social workers. The other half of the funds may be used to hire or train new employees. The bill encourages cities and counties to hire veterans, the disabled, laid-off city workers, and the chronically unemployed. For non-profit organizations, the Act allows funding to be used to retain public service employees as well as hire and/or train new workers.

In addition, on August 23rd, Congresswoman Wilson will host a massive jobs fair at the James L. Knight Center in downtown Miami as part of the Congressional Black Caucus "For the People" Jobs Initiative.

Rep. Frederica S. Wilson is a first-term congresswoman representing the 17^th District of Florida, including Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward Counties. She is a former state legislator and school principal and the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school.