IV

103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 73

Expressing the sense of Congress that Job Corps is a long-term program

that invests in America’s future and should serve as the cornerstone

of youth policy in America.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 25, 1993

Miss COLLINS of Michigan (for herself, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. CLAY, Mr. MURPHY, Mr. FORD of Tennessee, Mrs. MEEK, Mr. SCOTT, Mr. TOWNS, and

Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO ́) submitted the following concurrent resolution;

which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress that Job Corps is a longterm program that invests in America’s future and

should serve as the cornerstone of youth policy in

America.

Whereas by the year 2000 and beyond the workforce in the

United States will require high levels of basic literacy and

employment skills in order to meet the challenges of the

marketplace;

Whereas there are millions of at-risk youths who represent a

generation of disenfranchised Americans ill-equipped to

meet the challenges of a changing workplace;
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Whereas any proposal to remedy the many problems of such

youths must be comprehensive and provide total support

for their economic and social needs;

Whereas since 1964 over 1,500,000 at-risk youths have benefited from education, training, and job placement in the

Job Corps established under the Job Training Partnership Act (29 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.);

Whereas the Job Corps is America’s only residential education and vocational training program targeted to underprivileged youths who face multiple barriers to economic self-sufficiency by providing academic preparation

leading to a high school diploma or the equivalent, vocational skills training and work experience, safe and secure

housing, classes on parenting skills and family planning

to single mothers, and complete health care;

Whereas the average Job Corps participant is an 18-year old

high school dropout who reads at a 7th grade level, has

never held a full-time job, comes from a family with an

average income of $5,803, and has had a disruptive home

life;

Whereas these youths are considered the least likely to succeed, but over 75 percent of Job Corps participants obtain jobs, join the military, or continue their education;

Whereas independent studies have found that for every $1 invested in the Job Corps, $1.46 is returned to the economy through reductions in income maintenance payments, the costs of crime and incarceration, and through

increased taxes paid by graduates of the Job Corps; and

Whereas the Job Corps is the only Federal youth program

that has a documented, long-term successful track record

(approximately 30 years) and that provides a return on
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investment greater than its cost through immediate economic stimulus and long-term economic growth in depressed local communities: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—

3 (1) the Job Corps established under the Job

4 Training Partnership Act (29 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.)

5 is a long-term program that invests in America’s fu6 ture and should serve as the cornerstone of youth

7 policy in America;

8 (2) the Job Corps 50/50 plan is a long-term ini9 tiative that should be expanded to enrich and im10 prove the Job Corps by the year 2000; and

11 (3) enhancements to the Job Corps should be

12 made to—

13 (A) incorporate environmental protection

14 and preservation into the existing curriculum;

15 (B) incorporate advanced technology and

16 other skilled manufacturing initiatives into the

17 existing curriculum;

18 (C) incorporate Job Corps participants

19 into community development and infrastructure

20 improvement projects in low-income commu21 nities; and

22 (D) use Job Corps centers and their exist23 ing curriculum as adult literacy programs.
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