June 18, 2007

Resolution #68: Summer Youth Employment Funding calls on Congress to restore its long term commitment to a strong summer jobs program, either by providing funding for year round WIA youth activities at a level equivalent to or greater than the FY 2001 funding levels, or by enacting a separate summer jobs program.

Resolution #69: Investing in America’s Youth calls on Congress to make a major new investment in our nation’s youth of at least $1 billion to address the unmet needs of at-risk youth.

Resolution #24: Expanding the National Investment in After-school and Out-of-school Programs urges the federal government, along with state and local governments, to increase investment in community-based after-school and out-of-school programs.

Resolution #70: The Reauthorization of No Child Left Behind calls on federal education policymakers to work closely with mayors during NCLB reauthorization to examine how NCLB is working in their communities and where improvements are needed, while maintaining a focus on accountability and standards.

Resolution #71: Mayoral Leadership and Involvement in Education calls on mayors to take on a critical leadership and involvement role in local public education which can range from working as a partner with the local school system to address education needs, problems and issues to one where the mayor has the legal responsibility for the governance of the city’s public schools.

Resolution #72: Support English Language Learner Academic Success in our Nation’s Schools asks the federal government to provide sufficient funds to education agencies for the development of a systemic academic curriculum to ensure that English language learners achieve and sustain high levels of academic proficiency, linguistic skills and multi-cultural competency.

Resolution #54: Providing Prisoners Reentering Society and Ex-Offenders Greater Opportunities to Attain Self-sufficiency supports comprehensive education, housing and employment efforts to more effectively integrate persons leaving jail or prison back into society.

Resolution #73: Improving Elementary and Secondary Education urges the federal government to strengthen its investment in quality neighborhood primary and secondary public schools, and to use the additional funding to improve teacher salaries, finance school construction and modernization, provide before- and after-school programming and support many other school-based initiatives to address proficiency problems and raise graduation rates.

Resolution #74: Increasing Access to Post'secondary Education and Training calls on the federal government to increase the value of the Pell Grant for today’s low-income students to help them pursue a college education, and to protect existing programs and benefits that help create an educated and competitive workforce.

Resolution #76: Strengthening Workforce Development urges the federal government to strengthen the Workforce Investment Act by increasing funding, improving regional and private'sector coordination, providing adequate funding for youth programs with demonstrated success, and expanding outreach to immigrants.

Resolution #77: Increasing Funding for YouthBuild urges federal, state and local governments to increase their investment in YouthBuild, only from the excess of the amount appropriated for the WIA youth formula program, not at the expense of the year-round program.

Resolution #19: Making TANF Work Requirements More Flexible calls for TANF work requirements to be waived to allow individuals to attend community college or university to develop a career, not just a job; and to allow mental health and substance abuse programs to count toward meeting the “work participation” requirement.

Resolution #78: Providing Public Service Employment urges the federal government to provide funding for a public service employment program which hires economically disadvantaged and long-term unemployed individuals to work in projects which address identified community needs.

Resolution #79: Increasing the Minimum Wage calls on Congress to increase the minimum wage from the current level of $5.15 per hour to $7.25.

Resolution #80: Using the Tax Code to Help Lower Income Families Develop Assets calls on Congress to reform the federal tax code so that the benefits available to lower income families will be increased, simplified and easier to access.

Resolution #15: Providing Federal and State Support for Universal Preschool urges the federal and state governments to work with local governments to provide universal and standards-based preschool and early education to all families.

Resolution #75: Providing Federal and State Support for Career Academies urges federal, state and local governments to work together with private sector stakeholders to invest in expanding access to career exploration and preparation through career academies and other strategies.

Resolution #107: Supporting Lifetime Savings Accounts urges the federal government to open a savings account for every child born in this country, depositing up to $500 at the child’s birth and providing an annual income-indexed match of up to $500 for deposits made by family and third parties, until the child’s 18th birthday.