Karen Thurman: “I have a letter here from a mayor, Paula DeLaney out of Gainesville. And she writes to me, ``Dear Representative…”

“I have a letter here from a mayor, Paula DeLaney out of Gainesville. And she writes to me, ``Dear Representative Thurman: We have just learned that severe cuts in the Department of Labor's FY 2001 appropriations are under consideration by both the House and Senate, and that these may eliminate or severely reduce funding for One-Stop Career Centers, Adult Employment and Training, Dislocated Workers Programs, and the Youth Opportunities Program. I am writing to tell you of the crucial importance of these threatened programs to Gainesville and to request your help in obtaining the resources needed to sustain our community's workforce investment system.'' She goes on to say, ``The impact on Gainesville would include the following should these threatened cuts occur: To eliminate or reduce the One Stop Center Program would deny our local employers a single point of contact to list openings and find skilled workers. ``To cut Adult Employment and Training would deny many of our citizens the ability to obtain skills training needed for today's workplace.”