On the recordMarch 3, 2010
So this amendment is very important. As our economy continues to recover, we all know jobs are lagging. We need to do all we can to try to replicate what happened in Rocklin, CA. When you give a young person opportunity, a job opportunity, I think it stays with them the rest of their life. I remember the jobs I held when I was a teenager. One gave me a sense of self that I could help the company I was working for. I did many different jobs as a youngster in the summer. I was very fortunate to have that experience that I brought to other jobs later in my career. So this amendment will create up to 500,000 summer jobs. It will strengthen local economies. I do thank Senator Murray and the other cosponsors in the Senate. In closing, I wish to acknowledge Congresswoman Barbara Lee and the Congressional Black Caucus, who are leading the fight in the House to support critical youth job programs for our disadvantaged young people. I think the fact that it has been offered early in this bill is good because this is something we can do for our young people. They want so much to get job experience. They are struggling so much in this recession.
