Today, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), issued the following statement on the August 2012 jobs report:
“While the private sector added 103,000 jobs last month – for 30 consecutive months of private-sector job growth – there is still more work to be done to fully recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression. The most common-sense step we can take would be to enact President Obama’s American Jobs Act, which would create and save millions of good-paying jobs in construction, education and public safety. The Democratic-led Senate passed it, but the House Republicans refuse to bring it up for a vote. Why do they object to investing in our infrastructure? Who do they think will rebuild our roads, highways, ports and school buildings? How do they propose to prevent the layoffs of our firefighters, police officers and teachers?
“From day one, my focus has been jobs, jobs, jobs. Since the House Republicans have been in charge, they have refused to bring up one single jobs bill. President Obama’s American Jobs Act is based on proven job creation measures, as is my Jobs Now Act. By contrast, all the Republicans propose are more tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires, to double down on the failed trickle-down economic theory that got us into this mess in the first place. I’ve been in Congress for nearly two years now, and I am still waiting for the opportunity to vote on a bill that will create jobs.
“Tomorrow is the anniversary of President Obama’s introduction of the American Jobs Act. To maintain our competitive edge in the global economy, we must invest infrastructure, education and innovation. I call on my Republican colleagues in Congress to put their cynical politics aside, help us put millions more Americans back to work and build the foundation for an economy that’s built to last.”
Congresswoman Wilson’s Jobs Now Act Still Awaiting Congressional Action
On July 18, 2011, Congresswoman Wilson introduced the Jobs Now Act, a federal direct-hire bill patterned after the highly successful CETA (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) program of the 1970s and 1980s that was enacted by the Nixon administration. 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 cities – such as Miami – with high unemployment, home foreclosures and poverty.
The Jobs Now Act is a temporary, targeted program designed to get people back to work right away. It would cut the red tape of federal funds going through state bureaucracies, giving 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.
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U.S. Rep. Frederica S. Wilson is a first-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school.
