Pete Domenici: “I rise today with great pleasure to introduce ``The Rural Employment in Telecommunications Industry Act of 1999.'' The…”

“I rise today with great pleasure to introduce ``The Rural Employment in Telecommunications Industry Act of 1999.'' The introduction of this Bill marks a historic opportunity for rural communities to create jobs within the telecommunications industry. The Bill establishes a program to train residents of low income rural areas for employment in telecommunications industry jobs located in those same rural areas. As many of my colleagues know, I have an initiative called ``rural payday'' and I believe this Bill is yet another step in creating jobs for our rural areas. All too often a rural area is characterized by a high number of low income residents and a high unemployment rate. Moreover, our rural areas are often dependent upon a small number of employers or a single industry for employment opportunities. Consequently, when there is a plant closing, a downturn in the economy, or a slowdown in the area's industry the already present problems are only compounded.”