WHEREAS, unemployment and a lack of both skills and quality jobs are major causes of poverty; and

WHEREAS, in areas of high unemployment and stagnant job growth it is especially hard for low-skilled workers to obtain jobs; and

WHEREAS, public service employment would stabilize the workforce supply and increase wage stability for all workers; and

WHEREAS, over the years, the U.S. Department of Labor has funded public service employment programs targeted to economically disadvantaged or long-term unemployed individuals on a temporary, short-term basis as a means of providing income maintenance or human capital development for workers and valuable services for the community that would not otherwise have been available; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Labor is currently funding public service employment efforts through the Youthbuild program and a waiver provided to the State of Texas which permits public service employment under a National Emergency Grant for residents affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors urges the federal government to provide funding for a public service employment program which hires economically disadvantaged and long-term unemployed individual to work in projects which address identified community needs.