Bill Lee

I will continue to partner with my Congressional colleagues to identify cuts we can make.

No one can deny that the increasing costs of the war in Afghanistan are constraining our efforts to invest in job creation and jump-start the economy. Yesterday, I joined a bipartisan group of 80 Members of Congress in sending a letter to…

Some believe that job training and readiness programs administered by the Department of Labor really provide virtually no benefit to private sector employees.

Job training is essential as a pathway out of poverty.

Now, I know that legislation has been introduced in the House--I think it is H.R. 1047, the State Right to Vote Act--which supports the rights of States to enact such laws.

Quite frankly, labor unions, worker rights, and collective bargaining really has provided a path for many people of color to achieve middle-class status.

I personally believe in the process of collective bargaining and the rights and protections that are afforded to workers.

But what we also recognize is under the pay-as-you-go rules, there is a designation for an economic emergency.

Now we have had a difficult time because, of course, under PAYGO we know we have to find a pay-for.

And just so everyone knows, this disproportionately affects African-American men, and it really is a barrier to moving forward in terms of becoming productive members of society.

I know that. I am talking about when you complete your time, you do your time, you get out, just like with food stamps.

But after you get out, once you have done your time and paid the price and coming back out to become gainfully employed to become a productive member of this society, what do you do?

Thank you very much.

These are people who are looking for jobs, but because there are only 4.7 unemployed persons for one job, they need help.

That disproportionately affects African-American men, and it really is a barrier to moving forward in terms of becoming productive members of society

Oftentimes they promise employment after graduation or certification, but what we found, and I think you know this, is that, in many instances, students are securing Pell Grants and loans without even obtaining a degree or certificate

The problem is disadvantaged students often do not use the Web, especially of the Latino population having difficulty with the Web.

But as you know, the Affordable Care Act, which anticipates having affordable health coverage available for all Americans, is probably going to be the most significant step in 2014 than has ever been taken to close that health-disparity…

I just wanted to go back to the question on HIV and AIDS as it relates to last year.

This disproportionately affects African-American men, and it really is a barrier to moving forward in terms of becoming productive members of society

I think it is our moral obligation to really help those who are falling through the cracks and have nowhere to go now.

We have been trying over and over again--Congressman Scott, myself, and others, Congresswoman DeLauro, Congresswomen Roybal-Allard, Lowey, and many--to try to figure out how to extend those benefits for the 99ers so that at least 14…

I think that we need to look at how to hire more of our young people, especially during the summer, because it helps them with their resume building, but also it helps bring food into their families.

We need more money in YouthBuild, and we don't need these cuts, as I think H.R. 1 zeroed out funding for the program.

Oftentimes, though, they promise employment after graduation or certification, but what we found, and I think you know this, is that, in many instances, students are securing Pell Grants and loans without even obtaining a degree or…