Rep. John Conyers (Drew Angerer / Getty Images)
Washington — Rep. John Conyers launched a new congressional caucus Wednesday aimed at cultivating ideas to put all Americans back to work.
The Full Employment Caucus was formed by the longtime Democratic leader with the idea jobs will solve the country’s poverty and crime problems, particularly in his hometown of Detroit.
“In African-American and Hispanic communities, unemployment is 30 percent or more,” Conyers said Wednesday, flanked by fellow members of the Congressional Black Caucus who have joined Conyers in his effort. “... In our communities, we experience profound unemployment and, without a job, poverty is the only alternative.”
There are nearly 300 official caucuses in Congress that bring together lawmakers with similar interests or backgrounds. They range from political (Tea Party Caucus) to ethnic (Hispanic Caucus) and everything in between (Congressional Songwriter Caucus and the Bourbon Caucus).
Conyers, the dean of the Congressional Black Caucus and a leading liberal voice in Congress, said this caucus will meet regularly with economic experts and organize events in members’ districts to find the best solutions.
Fellow caucus member Sheila Jackson-Lee, D-Texas, noted President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech Tuesday in which he pledged to move on economic initiatives even if Congress drags its feet. She argues the work of the caucus could formulate executive orders the president could sign without congressional approval.
“We will be answering the call of all of America because people need work and we’re not doing right by them by creating work,” Jackson-Lee said. “I believe this caucus will put us on the right path and we’ll give President Obama a number of executive orders that he can sign with pride and strength.”
Conyers, the top Democrat on House Judiciary Committee, has long championed legislation to fund jobs and employment programs, known as the Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment and Training Act.
His legislation would create two separate federal trust funds. The first would grant money to communities and states for job-creating activities and the other for training people without skills.
mschultz@detroitnews.com
(202) 662-8736
(202) 662-8736
From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140129/POLITICS03/301290102#ixzz2rwCqjaf9
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