Judy Chu: “I stand here today in support of this rule and the underlying bill for one reason, and that is jobs, jobs, jobs. That's…”

“I stand here today in support of this rule and the underlying bill for one reason, and that is jobs, jobs, jobs. That's what this bill is about. It's about creating jobs across the country from Massachusetts to Florida to my home State of California. This bill extends an important program I call Jobs NOW. While it may be little known, it's funded through TANF emergency funds, and it has a huge impact on the unemployed in 39 States, creating over 160,000 jobs, which will disappear in an instant if we don't pass this bill. In L.A. County, it's paying 10,000 jobless workers $10 an hour and placing them in temporary jobs for up to a year. In exchange, the businesses provide training, build job skills, and get extra workers at little or no cost. It's truly a win-win. For small companies hard-hit by the economic downturn, the chance for extra workers to grow and expand their businesses is a welcome boost, even if it means providing training and workspace for the temps, and it's great for workers too. Anoush and Karen lost their jobs when the recession hit. Forced to go on welfare, they struggled to provide for their 2-year-old daughter. But Jobs NOW hired them to work at Abex Display systems, which manufactures trade show displays. The company used them to help handle a slow but growing recovery in sales, allowing it to move forward and stabilize after taking massive cuts in business. After the temporary jobs ended, both Karen and Anoush were hired permanently.”