By Penny Tilghman
April 21, 2008

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa touts Summer Jobs with U.S. Senator Patty Murray (WA), House Majority Whip James Clyburn (SC) and members of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Unified School District.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (WA) and House Majority Whip James Clyburn (SC) in Washington (DC) on April 16 for a press conference on the Summer Jobs Stimulus Act of 2008. U.S. Conference of Mayors Assistant Executive Director Kathy Amoroso and representatives from the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Los Angeles Unified School District also participated at the press conference.

At the press conference, Murray reiterated that the Summer Jobs Stimulus Act was targeted, timely and temporary in terms of the recent downturn in the U.S. economy. “If we are going to dig out of this country’s financial crisis, we must engage at the local level, where families and businesses are really hurting,” said Murray. “Creating summer jobs will help jump'start our struggling economy, make a positive difference in our communities, and introduce teens to the working world. This bill will be a short-term stimulus with long-term benefits.”

Villaraigosa and Clyburn both observed that youth would immediately contribute to the local economy when given the opportunity to work. The speakers further stressed that teens with early work experience increase their earning potential as adults. “I believe all young adults should have the ability to learn and work in a nurturing, safe environment, and every young person with a job is a future worker who might be saved from life on the streets,” said Villaraigosa. “To ensure the brightest future possible for our city and its residents, we must prepare the next generation for the workforce. Early work-experience generates a number of strong positive impacts on short-term and long-term employment and earnings.”

“It’s time for a second stimulus package that will help get our economy back on track, create jobs, and speed assistance to families struggling to make ends meet,” said Clyburn. “Economic experts have all made clear that a stimulus package must be timely, temporary and targeted. There’s no better program to implement such principles than a Summer Jobs program. The Workforce Investment Act system is already in place in most cities and ready to implement this program.”

Amoroso highlighted The U.S. Conference of Mayors’ support of reinstatement of the Summer Jobs program, which included a letter to Congressional leaders with 141 mayoral signatures calling for passage of this crucial legislation.

The $1 billion youth jobs program is estimated to create up to one million jobs for teens this summer, stimulate the economy, and help strengthen local communities. This initiative meets established economic stimulus goals by focusing on the economically disadvantaged with a short term program. The summer jobs program also falls in line with Murray’s long-term goals of building a skilled workforce and securing the nation’s communities.

To read more information about the summer jobs legislation which would provide $1 billion to cities and communities across the country to employ young people, visit the website http://murray.senate.gov/labor/summerjobs-stimulus.pdf.