Jobs, On-the-Job 'Earn While You Learn' Training, and Apprenticeships for African-American Young Men Act

To rebuild the Nation’s crumbling infrastructure, transportation systems, technology and computer networks, and energy distribution systems, by strongly and urgently requesting the immediate recruitment, employment, and on-the-job earn as you learn 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Jobs, On-the-Job Earn While You Learn 2. Findings and purpose (a) Findings Congress finds that— (1) African-American young men ages 18 to 39 are the hardest hit in unemployment, with an unemployment rate of 41 percent nationally, and in some States and cities, especially inner cities, higher than 50 percent; (2) this extraordinarily high unemployment rate has a terrible rippling impact on the breakdown of the family structure, as men in this age group are in the primary child-producing ages; and (3) an unemployment rate of 40 to 50 percent among African-American young men, many of who are fathers who, without jobs, and are unable to provide for their families, is not only a national crisis but a national tragedy. (b) Purpose The purpose of this Act is to secure jobs, on-the-job training, and apprenticeships for African-American young men ages 18 to 39 with the labor unions, general contractors, and businesses who will rebuild the Nation’s crumbling infrastructure in cities and communities throughout the Nation. 3. Urging employment, on-the-job training, and apprenticeships for unemployed African-American young men in rebuilding the Nation’s crumbling infrastructure (a) In general The Secretary of Labor shall strongly and urgently request those labor unions, general contractors, and businesses, who will rebuild the Nation’s crumbling infrastructure, transportation systems, technology and computer networks, and energy distribution systems, to actively recruit, hire, and provide on-the-job training to African-American young men ages 18 to 39 through their existing jobs, apprenticeships, and earn while you learn (b) Coordination The jobs, on-the-job training, and apprenticeships made available by labor unions, general contractors, and businesses described in subsection (a) shall be conducted in conjunction with the Secretary of Labor and the labor unions and other associations which have been identified as those primarily involved in the infrastructure rebuilding described in such subsection, including the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada, the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Union, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the National Electrical Contractors Association, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART), the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), and the United Steelworkers (USW). Such coordination shall also be done in conjunction with the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, which allows apprentices to earn while they learn. (c) Recruitment The labor unions, general contractors, and businesses described in subsections (a) and (b) shall recruit African-American young men for the jobs, on-the-job training, and apprenticeships described in subsection (a) by reaching out and seeking assistance from within the African-American community, churches, the National Urban League, the NAACP, 100 Black Men of America, high school and college job placement offices, media outlets, and other African-American organizations that can offer valuable assistance to the Secretary of Labor, the labor unions, general contractors, and businesses with identifying, locating, and contacting unemployed African-American young men who want jobs, on-the-job training, and apprenticeships. These African-American organizations have a long and rich history of working to improve the lives of African-Americans, and can be very helpful in successfully reaching, contacting, and recruiting unemployed African-American young men. 4. Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that this Act— (1) while rebuilding the crumbling infrastructure of this great Nation, will simultaneously help create good paying jobs and job training that will provide African-American young men ages 18 to 39 with the technical skills, computer capabilities, and other skills necessary in this high technology-driven job market, thus providing African-American young men with highly developed skills that will make them very competitive and attractive to many employers; and (2) greatly exemplifies and strengthens the high nobility of purpose that is the founding grace of this great Nation.

Summary: Jobs, On-the-Job "Earn While You Learn" Training, and Apprenticeships for African-American Young Men Act This bill requires the Department of Labor to request labor unions, general contractors, and businesses that will rebuild infrastructure, transportation systems, technology and computer networks, and energy distribution systems to actively recruit, hire, and provide on-the-job training to African American men ages 18 to 39 through existing jobs, apprenticeships, and "earn while you learn" programs. Labor must help coordinate such recruitment. The jobs, training, and apprenticeships must be conducted in conjunction with Labor, labor unions and associations involved in infrastructure rebuilding, and the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee. Labor unions, contractors, and businesses involved with such infrastructure or systems must recruit by seeking assistance from the African American community, churches, the National Urban League, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, 100 Black Men of America, high school and college job placement offices, and media outlets.