Recognizing Job Corps' 50-year Anniverasry

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Job Corps' 50-year anniversary. Born in 1965, Job Corps was designed as a collaboration between public agencies and private sector businesses and employers to help poor and unemployed young people gain the credentials and employment skills to build careers. Fifty years later, more than 3 million jobless and undereducated youth, employers and local communities have benefitted from this successful model--a comprehensive residential, academic and career preparation program. Each year, more than 50,000 at-risk youth obtain the employment and life skills necessary to start a career. More than 80 percent of Job Corps graduates obtain jobs, enroll in higher education, or enter the military.

Furthermore, Job Corps facilities play an important role in their local communities. With 125 campuses across America, Job Corps represents a base of economic activity in American communities that is particularly important during challenging economic times. For example, 228 local jobs are directly or indirectly supported by the average Job Corps campus each year, and $1.91 in local economic activity is generated by each dollar invested in Job Corps. The Pine Knot Job Corps in McCreary County, Kentucky and the Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Center in Floyd County, Kentucky are two successful Job Corps facilities in my district that have made important contributions to their communities.

Each year, more than 50,000 high school dropouts, homeless young adults, young parents, students with learning disabilities, and youth aging out of the foster care system enroll in Job Corps because it provides everything they need to start successful careers and become financially independent. Job Corps' open-entry, open-exit model allows dedicated academic and vocational professionals to create self-paced work plans for youth. Counselors, academic and vocational instructors, and residential advisors work with students 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, not only on career pursuits but also on life skills, such as financial literacy and responsible citizenship.

I thank Job Corps for its dedication to changing the lives of America's at-risk, jobless and disenfranchised youth. Job Corps remains a community-changing program that affects thousands across the United States. Job Corps continues to evolve and adapt to the changing needs of our youth, businesses and economic conditions and I appreciate their continued dedication.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source