Supporting A Local Jobs Bill

Floor Speech

Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, right now, our unemployment rate in the United States hovers around 10 percent. It's a little bit lower than that, but when you think about all of the people who are unemployed in some sectors, it is twice that. In some parts of our country, it is much more than that.

The fact is that we need a jobs bill, a real jobs bill that will put Americans to work. I propose that we support a local jobs bill that will help provide not only jobs for working Americans but will also provide vitally needed services to our cities. All over America, we have districts that are looking at laying off teachers and that are looking at laying off firefighters, police officers, and public works officials. We need these vital services to keep our cities moving properly.

Local officials around this country know that the Federal Government should be responding to these difficult shortfalls and cuts that are resulting in service cuts all over this Nation. We have work that needs to be done, and we have people who are ready to do it. It is time for Congress to step forward with a real local jobs bill.

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