YOUTH EMPLOYMENT FOR SUMMER 2000

Resolution Adopted By the Standing Committee on Jobs, Education and the Workforce and Approved by the Executive Committee at the 68th Winter Meeting, January 2000

1. WHEREAS, The U.S. Conference of Mayors has a strong commitment to the improvement of job and educational prospects for disadvantaged youth and believes a comprehensive youth employment experience is critical to achieving those goals; and
   

2. WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Labor has long been a supporter and champion of youth and has recently launched the Youth Opportunity Movement which provides direct funding to cities; and

3. WHEREAS, July 1, 2000, commences the nationwide implementation of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and the transition to a new, year-round youth employment program from the JTPA Summer Youth Employment Program; and
   

4. WHEREAS, The U.S. Conference of Mayors supports this transition to a more comprehensive program and year round services for all youth participants; and
   

5. WHEREAS, this change has the unintended consequence of significantly reducing available summer opportunities for youth; and
   

6. WHEREAS, every summer, since 1964, our cities’ community and faith based organizations have relied upon youth workers to staff a variety of programs from day camps and child care to providing assistance to the elderly and disabled; and
   

7. WHEREAS, last year, with the support of mayors, the President and the Administration, Congress appropriated sufficient funds to serve 500,000 young people in the summer of 1999; and
   

8. WHEREAS, youth living in cities still have problems with exceedingly high unemployment rates and despite a much-improved U.S. economy, at-risk youth are continuing to experience some of the most distressing economic conditions, especially in our most urban areas across the nation, many of which have unemployment rates hovering around 25 – 30 percent among minority populations; and
   

9. WHEREAS, 14 and 15 year olds, who are primarily only eligible for employment through a government sponsored work experience, cannot usually be hired for summer work by our private sector partners; and
   

10. WHEREAS, participation in employment programs can contribute to a safer environment and reduction in high-risk behavior, additionally, research has shown youth who entered the workforce at an early age are more successful as adult workers; and
    

11. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors strongly supports an emergency supplemental appropriation to address the shortfall of funds needed to continue serving 500,000, youth beginning with the implementation of WIA in the summer of 2000; and
    

12. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors, advocates increased funding in the Federal FY2001 budget to meet the projected doubling of program costs resulting from the comprehensive and year-round requirements as called for in the Workforce Investment Act.