CONGRESSIONAL FULL EMPLOYMENT CAUCUS STATEMENT ON MAY JOBS REPORT

Washington, D.C. – Congressional Full Employment Caucus Co-Chairs Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-FL) released the following statement on May jobs report numbers:

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

“We are deeply concerned by the alarming jobs numbers released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which show that just 38,000 jobs were created last month—the weakest number in six years.  Jobs figures for the previous two months were revised down, bringing the average for the last three months to just 116,000.   Although the unemployment rate decreased 0.3% to 4.7%, this reflects increased hopelessness rather than new hiring, as the number of Americans looking for work decreased to 62.6%—a level unseen since the late 1970s. The number of Americans working part-time because they were unable to find full time work increased dramatically to 6.4 million people. Communities of color continue to face crisis-level unemployment rates, showing almost no improvement in employment.

“This disappointing jobs report is sending a powerful message:  it is unacceptable for policymakers, including the Federal Reserve, to take any action that harms job and wage growth. This means that raising the interest rate should be off the table, especially considering the impact it would have on communities of color that have yet to share in the economic recovery. As we wrote to Chair Yellen with 124 other House Members and Senators last month, “By fostering genuine full employment, the Federal Reserve can help combat discrimination and dramatically reduce the disproportionate unemployment faced by minority populations.”

“Despite significant progress in recent years, our job market is still too weak to declare victory. Congress must step up to the plate and work with President Obama to expeditiously pass legislation that creates good-paying jobs. President Obama, Congress, and the Federal Reserve must make clear to the American people that job creation remains our top priority.”

The Congressional Full Employment Caucus was launched in February 2014. Members of the Congressional Full Employment Caucus have introduced three bills to address the unemployment crisis and help Americans access good-paying jobs: H.R. 1000, the Humphrey-Hawkins 21st Century Full Employment and Training Act of 2015, H.R.3555, the Jobs! Jobs! Jobs! Act of 2015, and H.R.1966, the21st Century Civilian Conservation Corps Act. The Congressional Full Employment Caucus serves as a platform and working group for Members of Congress who are dedicated to identifying solutions and advocating for legislative action to reduce unemployment.

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Conyers Visits Ohio On Poverty Tour

Let me know of the bold one, the one who speaks upon child poverty in this Poverty Tour.

Black Caucus Leader Visits Ohio On Poverty Tour

A long-standing member of Congress from Michigan will visit Columbus and Dayton this weekend to talk about poverty and other issues.

About 1.7 million people in Ohio were living in poverty in 2014, according to U.S. Census Bureau. John Bennett with the Community Action Partnership of Greater Dayton (CAP) says that number hasn’t moved much in the last few years.

“We make some progress but then other things set us back, so it’s a continual battle to try and improve things,” he said.

Bennett says CAP will join other local non-profits, labor, religious, and community groups in the discussion.

“It’s really just a national town hall tour to try and increase recognition of these events that we’ve mentioned; unemployment, poverty, jobs, healthcare and to increase public awareness and try to build some support for various solutions.”

The National Jobs for All Coalition is sponsoring the events and to help bring national attention to the effort, U.S. Congressman John Conyers of Michigan is scheduled to attend the events taking place in Columbus today and in Dayton tomorrow.

Conyers is a founding member and Dean of the Congressional Black Caucus.

The open forum in Dayton will take place at The United Theological Seminary at 10am on Saturday.

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Full Employment Caucus Co-Chairs Conyers, Wilson, and Kaptur Applaud DOL’s Proposed Rule to Diversify Apprenticeship Programs

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Representatives John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13), Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), and Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), co-chairs of the Congressional Full Employment Caucus, applaud the Department of Labor’s proposed rule to promote equal opportunity for Americans seeking positions in apprenticeship programs. The proposed rule comes in response to the Full Employment Caucus’s June 2014 letter (below) asking DOL’s Employment and Training Administration to update apprenticeship regulations.

Dean of he U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr. 

“Apprenticeships—sometimes called the ‘other four-year degree’—empower hardworking students to become successful employees.  When employers work with our education system to provide a smooth transition from the classroom to the shop floor, everybody wins.  But as we expand this new pathway of opportunity, we must ensure that women and minorities are able to fully enjoy the benefits.  I am pleased to see the Department of Labor has proposed this rule, and I will closely monitor it going forward,” said Congressman John Conyers, Jr.

“An apprenticeship is a pathway to better wages and secure employment for many Americans. As apprenticeship programs expand and are utilized in new industries, we must ensure they remain available to all Americans, including women and minorities,” said Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson. “I applaud DOL’s work to promote diversity in the proven apprenticeship model.”

“Apprenticeships and other forms of on-the-job training have consistently proven to be the most effective path to enter or re-enter the workforce,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. “Building these initiatives forward to create and grow opportunity is an effective way to expand our workforce. And we have the opportunity and responsibility to ensure that apprenticeships and workforce training work for all people, including for women and minority candidates. The Department of Labor is to be applauded for their work on this rule and in the broader effort to improve our best apprenticeship models.”

The proposed rule, the first proposed update since 1978, was announced during the Department of Labor’s first annual National Apprenticeship Week.

Full Employment Congressional Caucus Letter To POTUS Requesting Update To Minority Workforce Regulations

More information on the proposed rule can be found here.

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

CONGRESSIONAL FULL EMPLOYMENT CAUCUS CO-CHAIRS ANNOUNCE DISCHARGE PETITION FOR THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT

WASHINGTON – Today, Reps. John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), and Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) - all co-chairs of the Congressional Full Employment Caucus - announced a discharge petition for H.R. 2821, the American Jobs Act, to compel House Republican leaders to bring the comprehensive package of employment measures to the House floor for a vote. 

U.S. Representative
John Conyers, Jr.

“The American Jobs Act will finally put an end to the painful impacts of the Great Recession,” said Rep. Conyers.  “Despite the progress we have seen in recent employment numbers, there are still more than two applicants for every single job opening.  There are still more than twice as many people among the ranks of the long-term unemployed than there were before the financial crisis struck in 2008.” 

H.R. 2821 is an updated version of President Obama's American Jobs Act, a bill that, according toindependent analysis, would have created 1.9 million jobs and boosted growth by 2% if passed when originally introduced in 2011.  Congressional leaders allowed the bill to expire at the end of the 112^thCongress without bringing it to the floor for a vote.

This critical legislation rewards work and targets job creation through several fully paid-for provisions.  It would cut taxes for working Americans by reinstituting the Making Work Pay Credit, which provides a tax credit equal to 6.2% of earnings and up to a maximum credit of $400 individuals and $800 for couples.  It would also facilitate job-creating infrastructure investment by supporting public-private financing for projects such as airport and air traffic control systems, highway and bridge rehabilitation, and high-speed rail projects.  Lastly, H.R. 2821 would restore emergency unemployment insurance and end sequestration, the across-the-board budget cuts that are projected to cost Americans more than 2 million jobs over the next decade.

“Together with Democratic leadership, we are introducing this discharge petition for the American Jobs Act because it is time for Congress to focus on the priority that matters most for the American people: Jobs.  House Republicans should stop protecting corporate welfare and start fighting for American jobs,” said Rep. Wilson. “By putting teachers, police, firefighters, and construction workers back on the job, we can not only improve our employment situation but also boost educational outcomes and perform urgently-needed upgrades to our infrastructure.”

“The American public has told Congress over and over again that it is time to get serious about creating jobs, and the American Jobs Act would do just that,” said Rep. Kaptur. “This jobs bill would put millions of Americans back to work, strengthen our communities, and keep America competitive in our increasingly globalized world. Not only would the American Jobs Act put individuals back to work, it would place them in good paying jobs that provide a high quality of life.  This is the American dream and this Congress must act to pass the American Jobs Act, legislation that can quickly turn around the lives of millions of Americans.”

The Congressional Full Employment Caucus is a coalition of 25 Members of Congress who are committed to ensuring that all Americans who want to work have access to either employment or training.  The Caucus regularly hosts expert economists, academics, and policymakers to identify effective job-creation proposals and implement strategies for their adoption.

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Reps. Conyers, Wilson, Kaptur to Speak at National Jobs For All Coalition Forum - “Reaching Full Employment: A Strategy Discussion on Job Creation”, July 9, 2014 at 10:00 AM

(WASHINGTON) – Tomorrow - in Rayburn House Building Room 2226 the National Jobs For All Coalition will host a forum entitled “Reaching Full Employment: A Strategy Discussion on Job Creation” at 10:00 am- 12:30pm. Leading members of the Congressional Full Employment Caucus, including Rep. Conyers, Rep. Wilson, and Rep. Kaptur will be speaking at the forum. The event will focus on what national organizations and grassroots activists are doing to parallel efforts of Members of Congress to address the extended unemployment and underemployment crisis effecting millions of American.

This event will be moderated by Gertrude Schaffner Goldberg, Chair of the National Jobs For All Coalition, and will feature Members of the Congressional Full Employment Caucus; Rev. Rodney S. Sadler, Jr. Ph.D, a leader in North Carolina’s MoralMonday Movement; Debby Szerdey, Executive Vice President of  the American Postal Workers Union; Josh Nassar, Legislative Director of the United Auto Workers; Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs; George H. Lambert, Jr., President & CEO of the Greater Washington Urban League; Professor Philip Harvey, Professor of Law & Economics at Rutgers School of Law; Kevin Bradshaw, President of the Bakery, Confectioners, Tobacco, Workers & Grain Millers Union, Local 252G; and Chris Horton, Worcester Unemployment Action Group.  

This meeting will kick off two days of dialogue among national and grassroots job creation advocates for the purpose of developing a coordinated national strategy for job creation. For further information about the Congressional Full Employment Caucus, or its members’ participation in this forum, please contact Erik Sperling (Conyers) at 202-225-5126 orerik.sperling@mail.house.gov or Jenny Perrino (Kaptur) at 202-225-4146 or jenny.perrino@mail.house.gov .

If you are unable to attend in person, the event will be live-streamed at  the following link: Jobs For All: Building a Movement for Full Employment .

What:	“Reaching Full Employment: A Strategy Discussion on Job Creation”
Who:	Ø  Sponsor - The National Jobs for All Coalition and other nonprofit organizations Ø  Moderator - Gertrude Schaffner Goldberg – Chair, National Jobs For All Coalition Speakers: Ø  Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) Ø  Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.) Ø  Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) Ø  Featuring Additional Members of the Congressional Full Employment Caucus Ø  Rev. Rodney S. Sadler, Jr. Ph.D. – Leader in NC Moral Monday Movement Ø  Debby Szerdey – Executive Vice President, American Postal  Workers Union Ø  Josh Nassar – Legislative Director, United Auto Workers Ø  Deborah Weinstein – Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs Ø  George H. Lambert, Jr. – President & CEO of the Greater Washington Urban League Ø  Philip Harvey – Professor of Law & Economics at Rutgers School of Law Ø  Kevin Bradshaw – President, Bakery, Confectioners, Tobacco, Workers & Grain Millers Union, Local 252G Ø  Chris Horton – Worcester Unemployment Action Group
When:	TOMORROW - Wednesday – July  9th at 10:00 am- 12:30 pm
Where:	2226 Rayburn House Office Building

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Conyers, Wilson, & Kaptur Host Brain Trust on Long-Term Unemployment As Congress Turns a Blind Eye

(WASHINGTON) – This afternoon, the Congressional Full Employment Caucus held a panel discussion on the ongoing employment crisis in America, entitled “Bipartisan Solutions to Long-Term Unemployment.” The event - moderated by Arthur Delaney with the Huffington Post - featured esteemed panelists including: Betsey Stevenson, a Member of the White House Council of Economic Advisors; Judy Conti, Federal Advocacy Coordinator with the National Employment Law Project; and Heidi Shierholz, an Economist at the Economic Policy Institute. During the course of the discussion, panelists identified proven bipartisan solutions - that Congress can consider and pass immediately - to combat the ongoing employment crisis in the United States and get Americans back to work.

At the conclusion of the panel discussion, Representatives John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.), and Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) issued the following statement:

U.S. Representative
John Conyers, Jr.

Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.): “The unemployment rate has declined at an unacceptably slow pace in the half-decade since the financial crisis. More than 3.4 million currently-unemployed people have been out of work for 27 weeks or longer, excluding the untold number of individuals who have become discouraged and dropped out of the workforce. I co-founded the Congressional Full Employment Caucus this year so that Congress focuses on the widespread unemployment crisis. Having a job is not only essential for having a home and having healthcare. It is essential for enjoying a life of basic stability and dignity. The discussion today not only shed light on the plight of the long-term unemployed - and the discrimination that they face - but also on the actions Congress can take right away. The greatest danger is that Congress will forget this human tragedy. Today’s panel is the first of several efforts - spearheaded by the new Full Employment Caucus - to restore the focus on jobs and to identify and advocate for lasting solutions to the unemployment crisis.”

Representative Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.): “There’s a simple message I’ve been trying to get across since I arrived in Congress: Unemployment is our true deficit. People are suffering. Five years after the onset of the financial crisis, there are still more than eleven million people actively looking for jobs, more than four million who have been jobless for six months or longer, and seven million who have given up looking for work altogether. Nearly 3 million Americans, including more than 130,000 Floridians, have not received their unemployment insurance benefits since December 2013.  Now more than ever, it is important that we support a movement towards full employment by enacting policy that creates jobs and boost wages. The mantra of this Congress must be: Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!”

Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio): “Putting Americans back to work is priority number one.  Our unemployment crisis not only hurts those who cannot find work today, but future generations.  We must act now.  The solution could not be more clear.  If we want a strong future, we must invest in our crumbling infrastructure—supporting millions of good jobs modernizing our transportation, energy, and water sectors.  We have the tools to do great things for the American people.  We need the will to act.  I am excited to be leading that charge today.”

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©