CONGRESSIONAL FULL EMPLOYMENT CAUCUS STATEMENT ON MAY JOBS REPORT

Washington, D.C. – Congressional Full Employment Caucus Co-Chairs Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-FL) released the following statement on May jobs report numbers:

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

“We are deeply concerned by the alarming jobs numbers released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which show that just 38,000 jobs were created last month—the weakest number in six years.  Jobs figures for the previous two months were revised down, bringing the average for the last three months to just 116,000.   Although the unemployment rate decreased 0.3% to 4.7%, this reflects increased hopelessness rather than new hiring, as the number of Americans looking for work decreased to 62.6%—a level unseen since the late 1970s. The number of Americans working part-time because they were unable to find full time work increased dramatically to 6.4 million people. Communities of color continue to face crisis-level unemployment rates, showing almost no improvement in employment.

“This disappointing jobs report is sending a powerful message:  it is unacceptable for policymakers, including the Federal Reserve, to take any action that harms job and wage growth. This means that raising the interest rate should be off the table, especially considering the impact it would have on communities of color that have yet to share in the economic recovery. As we wrote to Chair Yellen with 124 other House Members and Senators last month, “By fostering genuine full employment, the Federal Reserve can help combat discrimination and dramatically reduce the disproportionate unemployment faced by minority populations.”

“Despite significant progress in recent years, our job market is still too weak to declare victory. Congress must step up to the plate and work with President Obama to expeditiously pass legislation that creates good-paying jobs. President Obama, Congress, and the Federal Reserve must make clear to the American people that job creation remains our top priority.”

The Congressional Full Employment Caucus was launched in February 2014. Members of the Congressional Full Employment Caucus have introduced three bills to address the unemployment crisis and help Americans access good-paying jobs: H.R. 1000, the Humphrey-Hawkins 21st Century Full Employment and Training Act of 2015, H.R.3555, the Jobs! Jobs! Jobs! Act of 2015, and H.R.1966, the21st Century Civilian Conservation Corps Act. The Congressional Full Employment Caucus serves as a platform and working group for Members of Congress who are dedicated to identifying solutions and advocating for legislative action to reduce unemployment.

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Full Employment Caucus Co-Chairs Conyers, Wilson, and Kaptur Applaud DOL’s Proposed Rule to Diversify Apprenticeship Programs

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Representatives John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13), Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), and Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), co-chairs of the Congressional Full Employment Caucus, applaud the Department of Labor’s proposed rule to promote equal opportunity for Americans seeking positions in apprenticeship programs. The proposed rule comes in response to the Full Employment Caucus’s June 2014 letter asking DOL’s Employment and Training Administration to update apprenticeship regulations.

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

“Apprenticeships—sometimes called the ‘other four-year degree’—empower hardworking students to become successful employees.  When employers work with our education system to provide a smooth transition from the classroom to the shop floor, everybody wins.  But as we expand this new pathway of opportunity, we must ensure that women and minorities are able to fully enjoy the benefits.  I am pleased to see the Department of Labor has proposed this rule, and I will closely monitor it going forward,” said Congressman John Conyers, Jr.

“An apprenticeship is a pathway to better wages and secure employment for many Americans. As apprenticeship programs expand and are utilized in new industries, we must ensure they remain available to all Americans, including women and minorities,” said Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson. “I applaud DOL’s work to promote diversity in the proven apprenticeship model.”

“Apprenticeships and other forms of on-the-job training have consistently proven to be the most effective path to enter or re-enter the workforce,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. “Building these initiatives forward to create and grow opportunity is an effective way to expand our workforce. And we have the opportunity and responsibility to ensure that apprenticeships and workforce training work for all people, including for women and minority candidates. The Department of Labor is to be applauded for their work on this rule and in the broader effort to improve our best apprenticeship models.”

The proposed rule, the first proposed update since 1978, was announced during the Department of Labor’s first annual National Apprenticeship Week.

Full Employment Congressional Caucus Letter To POTUS Requesting Update To Minority Workforce Regulations

More information on the proposed rule can be found here.

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CONGRESSIONAL FULL EMPLOYMENT CAUCUS CO-CHAIRS ANNOUNCE DISCHARGE PETITION FOR THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT

WASHINGTON – Today, Reps. John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), and Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) - all co-chairs of the Congressional Full Employment Caucus - announced a discharge petition for H.R. 2821, the American Jobs Act, to compel House Republican leaders to bring the comprehensive package of employment measures to the House floor for a vote. 

U.S. Representative
John Conyers, Jr.

“The American Jobs Act will finally put an end to the painful impacts of the Great Recession,” said Rep. Conyers.  “Despite the progress we have seen in recent employment numbers, there are still more than two applicants for every single job opening.  There are still more than twice as many people among the ranks of the long-term unemployed than there were before the financial crisis struck in 2008.” 

H.R. 2821 is an updated version of President Obama's American Jobs Act, a bill that, according toindependent analysis, would have created 1.9 million jobs and boosted growth by 2% if passed when originally introduced in 2011.  Congressional leaders allowed the bill to expire at the end of the 112^thCongress without bringing it to the floor for a vote.

This critical legislation rewards work and targets job creation through several fully paid-for provisions.  It would cut taxes for working Americans by reinstituting the Making Work Pay Credit, which provides a tax credit equal to 6.2% of earnings and up to a maximum credit of $400 individuals and $800 for couples.  It would also facilitate job-creating infrastructure investment by supporting public-private financing for projects such as airport and air traffic control systems, highway and bridge rehabilitation, and high-speed rail projects.  Lastly, H.R. 2821 would restore emergency unemployment insurance and end sequestration, the across-the-board budget cuts that are projected to cost Americans more than 2 million jobs over the next decade.

“Together with Democratic leadership, we are introducing this discharge petition for the American Jobs Act because it is time for Congress to focus on the priority that matters most for the American people: Jobs.  House Republicans should stop protecting corporate welfare and start fighting for American jobs,” said Rep. Wilson. “By putting teachers, police, firefighters, and construction workers back on the job, we can not only improve our employment situation but also boost educational outcomes and perform urgently-needed upgrades to our infrastructure.”

“The American public has told Congress over and over again that it is time to get serious about creating jobs, and the American Jobs Act would do just that,” said Rep. Kaptur. “This jobs bill would put millions of Americans back to work, strengthen our communities, and keep America competitive in our increasingly globalized world. Not only would the American Jobs Act put individuals back to work, it would place them in good paying jobs that provide a high quality of life.  This is the American dream and this Congress must act to pass the American Jobs Act, legislation that can quickly turn around the lives of millions of Americans.”

The Congressional Full Employment Caucus is a coalition of 25 Members of Congress who are committed to ensuring that all Americans who want to work have access to either employment or training.  The Caucus regularly hosts expert economists, academics, and policymakers to identify effective job-creation proposals and implement strategies for their adoption.

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Reps. Conyers, Wilson, Kaptur to Speak at National Jobs For All Coalition Forum - “Reaching Full Employment: A Strategy Discussion on Job Creation”, July 9, 2014 at 10:00 AM

(WASHINGTON) – Tomorrow - in Rayburn House Building Room 2226 the National Jobs For All Coalition will host a forum entitled “Reaching Full Employment: A Strategy Discussion on Job Creation” at 10:00 am- 12:30pm. Leading members of the Congressional Full Employment Caucus, including Rep. Conyers, Rep. Wilson, and Rep. Kaptur will be speaking at the forum. The event will focus on what national organizations and grassroots activists are doing to parallel efforts of Members of Congress to address the extended unemployment and underemployment crisis effecting millions of American.

This event will be moderated by Gertrude Schaffner Goldberg, Chair of the National Jobs For All Coalition, and will feature Members of the Congressional Full Employment Caucus; Rev. Rodney S. Sadler, Jr. Ph.D, a leader in North Carolina’s MoralMonday Movement; Debby Szerdey, Executive Vice President of  the American Postal Workers Union; Josh Nassar, Legislative Director of the United Auto Workers; Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs; George H. Lambert, Jr., President & CEO of the Greater Washington Urban League; Professor Philip Harvey, Professor of Law & Economics at Rutgers School of Law; Kevin Bradshaw, President of the Bakery, Confectioners, Tobacco, Workers & Grain Millers Union, Local 252G; and Chris Horton, Worcester Unemployment Action Group.  

This meeting will kick off two days of dialogue among national and grassroots job creation advocates for the purpose of developing a coordinated national strategy for job creation. For further information about the Congressional Full Employment Caucus, or its members’ participation in this forum, please contact Erik Sperling (Conyers) at 202-225-5126 orerik.sperling@mail.house.gov or Jenny Perrino (Kaptur) at 202-225-4146 or jenny.perrino@mail.house.gov .

If you are unable to attend in person, the event will be live-streamed at  the following link: Jobs For All: Building a Movement for Full Employment .

What:	“Reaching Full Employment: A Strategy Discussion on Job Creation”
Who:	Ø  Sponsor - The National Jobs for All Coalition and other nonprofit organizations Ø  Moderator - Gertrude Schaffner Goldberg – Chair, National Jobs For All Coalition Speakers: Ø  Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) Ø  Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.) Ø  Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) Ø  Featuring Additional Members of the Congressional Full Employment Caucus Ø  Rev. Rodney S. Sadler, Jr. Ph.D. – Leader in NC Moral Monday Movement Ø  Debby Szerdey – Executive Vice President, American Postal  Workers Union Ø  Josh Nassar – Legislative Director, United Auto Workers Ø  Deborah Weinstein – Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs Ø  George H. Lambert, Jr. – President & CEO of the Greater Washington Urban League Ø  Philip Harvey – Professor of Law & Economics at Rutgers School of Law Ø  Kevin Bradshaw – President, Bakery, Confectioners, Tobacco, Workers & Grain Millers Union, Local 252G Ø  Chris Horton – Worcester Unemployment Action Group
When:	TOMORROW - Wednesday – July  9th at 10:00 am- 12:30 pm
Where:	2226 Rayburn House Office Building

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Reps. Conyers & Wilson to Host Press Conference January 29, 2014 at 10AM – Announcing Establishment of the “Congressional Full Employment Caucus”

(WASHINGTON) – In response to the ongoing jobs crisis in America, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) and Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) will announce the creation of the Congressional Full Employment Caucus tomorrow morning, January 29^th at 10:00 a.m. in 2226 Rayburn House Office Building. With 24 million new jobs needed to end the unacceptably high rate of unemployment and underemployment, and to reach full employment, Congress must take an active role to ensure adequate opportunities are available as it has historically. The Full Employment Caucus will serve as a working group and platform for Members dedicated to identifying solutions to our current unemployment crisis and advocating for legislative action.  Ultimately, the goal of the Caucus is to realize the dream of a society in which every American who wants to work has the right to some form of employment.

For further information about the Congressional Full Employment Caucus or the press conference, please contact Jenny Perrino (Rep. Conyers) at 202-225-5126 or jenny.perrino@mail.house.gov , or Justin Zorn (Rep. Wilson) at 202-225-4506 or justin.zorn@mail.house.gov.

What:	Press Conference – Announcing Establishment of the “Congressional Full Employment Caucus”
Who:	Ø  Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) Ø  Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) Ø  Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) Ø  Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. (D-N.J.) Ø  Congressman Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) Ø  Additional Members of Congress
When:	Tomorrow morning - Wednesday, January 29th, 10:00 a.m.
Where:	2226 Rayburn House Office Building

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