REP. CONYERS, SENATOR SANDERS INTRODUCE THE EMPLOY YOUNG AMERICANS NOW ACT

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced the “Employ Young Americas Now Act,” legislation that would fix our country’s youth jobs crisis.

Rep. John Conyers. Jr. and
Sen. Bernie Sanders

The Employ Young Americans Now Act will provide $5.5 billion in immediate funding to states and localities to employ one million young Americans between the ages of 16 and 24, and provide job training to hundreds of thousands of young Americans.  The legislation also allocates $4 billion in grant funding to the U.S. Department of Labor to create summer and year-round employment opportunities for low-income youth and another $1.5 billion in competitive grants for work-based training.

The youth unemployment rate in the United States for 16- to 19-year-olds was 19.6 percent in August, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  The African-American youth unemployment rate is 32.8 percent. 

“Nearly six million young Americans are neither in school nor working,” said Conyers.  “This is a national emergency that demands immediate federal action.  By empowering states, local communities, nonprofits, and small businesses to train and hire young Americans, this legislation will restore financial security, productivity, and dignity.  Our economy and society are strongest when our young people enjoy decent opportunity.”

“The most serious crisis facing this country is the lack of decent-paying jobs, particularly when it comes to young Americans,” Sanders said.  “If young high school graduates are unable to find entry-level jobs, how will they ever be able to develop the skills, the experience and the confidence they need to break into the job market?”

Sanders and Conyers emphasized that youth unemployment has long-term consequences.  Today, more than5.8 million young Americans have either dropped out of high school or graduated from high school and have no jobs.  Unemployment can equate to lower lifelong earnings and productivity for affected workers.  Recent academic studies have shown that people who experience early bouts of unemployment suffer 10 to 15 % lower wages than their peers.  These “wage scars” have been demonstrated to last upwards of 20 years.                                                                                                             

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) is a cosponsor of the Senate bill.  “High unemployment hits our communities and families hard, and it is particularly devastating for teens and young adults who are denied the opportunity to get the basic job skills they need to go on to college and get a good paying job,” she said.  “This legislation is an investment in our young adults who just need the chance to prove themselves and get ahead.”

In the House, the Employ Young Americans Now Act is cosponsored by Representatives Charles Rangel (NY-13), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), John Lewis (GA-05), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Elijah Cummings (MD-07), Terri Sewell (AL-07) and Frederica Wilson (FL-24).

The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), United Automobile Workers (UAW), the United Steelworkers of America, Campaign for America’s Future and the National Employment Law Project have also expressed support for this critical legislation.

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

REP. CONYERS, SENATOR SANDERS TO INTRODUCE THE “EMPLOY YOUNG AMERICANS NOW ACT”

WASHINGTON – Tomorrow, Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will hold a press conference to introduce the “Employ Young Americans Now Act,” legislation that would provide$5.5 billion in grants to states and local governments to provide job opportunities and professional career training to millions of young Americans.

According to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the youth unemployment rate is 19.6% and the African-American youth unemployment rate is 32.8%.           

         

 Who: Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)

What: Press conference on youth jobs crisis

When: TOMORROW – Tuesday, Sept. 16 - 11:30 a.m.

Where: Senate Radio/TV Gallery   (S325)

                                                            

            Contact: Michael Briggs (202) 224-5141   

EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG YOUTH —SUMMER 2014 Bureau of Labor Statistics

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

CONYERS STATEMENT ON THE 20THANNIVERSARY OF AMERICORPS

DETROIT – Today, Congressman John Conyers Jr. (MI-13) issued the following statement in recognition of the 20th 

U.S. Representative
John Conyers, Jr.

anniversary of the AmeriCorps program:

“Twenty years ago, AmeriCorps was founded in order to foster civic engagement and help meet our domestic obligations to one another.  It has succeeded with flying colors.  AmeriCorps has immeasurably strengthened our communities and it continues to embody the very best of American ideals.

In Michigan this year, more than 1,400 individuals will join through the AmeriCorps program to fulfill unmet needs in education, environmental justice, economic fairness and community development.  These men and women join a proud tradition: since 1994 over 25,000 Michiganders have served in AmeriCorps, where they have provided over $80 million worth of vital services to our communities.  

More than anyone, the volunteers for AmeriCorps exhibit the spirt needed to heal our nation’s divisions.  Their spirit is defined not by self-interest and personal gain, but by self-sacrifice and personal initiative.  I congratulate AmeriCorps in celebrating their 20^th anniversary and I wish the program all the best for the next twenty years and more.”

# # #

To learn how you can get involved and for more information on the AmeriCorps program, visit: http://www.nationalservice.gov/

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE APPROVES BIPARTISAN BANKRUPTCY LEGISLATION

Washington, D.C. – Today the House Judiciary Committee approved H.R. 5421, the Financial Institution Bankruptcy Act of 2014 by a voice vote.

The Financial Institution Bankruptcy Act is a product of the Judiciary Committee’s long-standing oversight of our nation’s bankruptcy laws as well as the Committee’s recent examination into improving bankruptcy laws for the resolution of financial institutions. The Financial Institution Bankruptcy Act incorporates the recommendations of hearing witnesses, regulators and experts from three Committee hearings on the subject over the past year. The legislation specifically adds a new subchapter V to chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code to address the resolution of financial institutions, including large, multi-national financial firms.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Ranking Member John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Regulatory Reform Subcommittee Chairman Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.) praised today’s Committee vote:

“We strongly support the Committee’s passage of the bipartisan Financial Institution Bankruptcy Act today. This bill was carefully calibrated to strengthen our nation’s bankruptcy laws and to ensure that the bankruptcy process is well equipped to resolve companies of all operations and sizes. This legislation enhances the Bankruptcy Code and its ability to resolve financial institutions in an efficient and value-maximizing manner for the benefit of the U.S. and global economies, employees, creditors, and customers.”

‘Financial Institution 5 Bankruptcy Act of 2014 by Beverly Tran

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

CONYERS AND 10 OTHER HOUSE JUDICIARY DEMOCRATS SEEK ANSWERS FROM NFL IN RAY RICE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENT

WASHINGTON – Today, several Members of the House Judiciary Committee issued a letter to Roger Goodell, Commissioner of the National Football League (NFL), raising questions related to their handling of the Ray Rice domestic violence incident. 

The letter is signed by House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers Jr. (MI-13),  Reps. Jerrold Nadler (NY-10),  Luis Gutierrez (IL-04), Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Cedric L. Richmond (LA- 02), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson Jr. (GA-04), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Judy Chu (CA-27), Karen Bass (CA-37), Suzan K. DelBene (WA-01) and Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08).

CONYERS AND 10 OTHER HOUSE JUDICIARY DEMOCRATS SEEK ANSWERS FROM NFL IN RAY RICE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENT...

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

BIPARTISAN BANKRUPTCY LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE

WASHINGTON – Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R- VA), Ranking Member John Conyers Jr. (D-MI), and House Judiciary Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law Subcommittee Chairman Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.) introduced H.R. 5421, the Financial Institution Bankruptcy Act of 2014.

The Financial Institution Bankruptcy Act is a bipartisan product of the Judiciary Committee’s long-standing oversight of our nation’s bankruptcy laws as well as the Committee’s recent examination into improving bankruptcy laws for the resolution of financial institutions. The Committee conducted three hearings over the past year on whether and how to enhance bankruptcy laws to better address the unique challenges presented by the resolution of financial institutions through bankruptcy. H.R. 5421 The Financial Institution Bankruptcy Actincorporates the recommendations of hearing witnesses, regulators and experts by adding a new subchapter V to Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code to address specifically the resolution of financial institutions, including large, multi-national financial firms.

Chairman Bob Goodlatte (VA-06)), Ranking Member John Conyers Jr. (MI-13), and House Judiciary Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law Subcommittee Chairman Spencer Bachus (AL-06) issued the following joint statement:

“The House Judiciary Committee has a long history of vigilant oversight of our nation’s bankruptcy laws.  The Financial Institution Bankruptcy Act is a reflection of the Committee’s continued commitment to this oversight and to ensuring that the bankruptcy process is best equipped to resolve companies of varying operations and sizes. The legislation enhances the Bankruptcy Code in order to resolve financial institutions in an efficient and value-maximizing manner for the benefit of the U.S. and global economies, employees, creditors, and customers. This bill has been calibrated carefully to provide transparency, predictability and judicial oversight to a process that must be executed quickly and in a manner responsive to potential systemic risks. We strongly support this bipartisan legislation that will strengthen the bankruptcy process for financial institutions.”

The Judiciary Committee is scheduled to markup this bipartisan legislation tomorrow, September 10, 2014.

‘Financial Institution 5 Bankruptcy Act of 2014

‘Financial Institution 5 Bankruptcy Act of 2014

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

REPS. CONYERS, FUDGE, CLAY LAUD DOJ INVESTIGATION INTO THE FERGUSON POLICE DEPT.

WASHINGTON – Today, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee John Conyers Jr. (MI-13), Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) and Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (MO-01) released the following joint statement after the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced commencement of a separate, new civil rights “pattern and practice” investigation into the Ferguson, Missouri Police Department for possible discriminatory misconduct:

“The Justice Department’s decision to initiate a pattern and practice investigation of the Ferguson Missouri Police Department that we previously requested sends a signal that review and relief for substantive complaints about the quality of policing in the community is on the way.  The Department’s additional decision to engage the St. Louis County Police Department in the COPS technical assistance program is further evidence of the Attorney General’s commitment to remedy the root causes of the unrest triggered by the tragic shooting of Michael Brown. 

Experience has shown that these federal programs have the ability to transform the operations of state and local police departments, opening vital lines of communication and improving public safety.  While the Department cannot be everywhere at once, we hope that the cooperation exhibited by local leaders in St. Louis County will encourage other law enforcement agencies to avail themselves of these and other similar federal programs to address their own policing issues and stopping tragedies like the Michael Brown shooting before they occur.”

# # #

On August 11, 2014, Representatives Conyers, Fudge and Clay issued a letter to the DOJ that requested a full investigation into the shooting of Michael Brown and to consider opening a “pattern and practice” investigation into the Ferguson police department’s law enforcement tactics.

REPS. CONYERS, SCOTT, AND COHEN DEMAND CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ON USE OF EXCESSIVE AND DEADLY FORCE BY POLICE... by Beverly Tran

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©