The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“ON THE OCCASION OF THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE JOB CORPS PROGRAM” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1400 on Sept. 15, 2014.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
ON THE OCCASION OF THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE JOB CORPS PROGRAM
______
HON. GARY C. PETERS
of michigan
in the house of representatives
Monday, September 15, 2014
Mr. PETERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Job Corps program, which was founded in 1965 as a key part of President Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty. Founded with the mission of empowering youth, ages 16 through 24, from disadvantaged backgrounds to improve their own quality of life, the Detroit Job Corps Center has been a vital part of the Southeast Michigan region by providing vocational and academic training.
Created under the administration of the U.S. Department of Labor under the Economic Opportunity Act, the dedicated staff of the Job Corps program have been working for half of a century to address the many different barriers that youth encounter in their efforts to obtain employment and attain independence. By providing youth with a combination of academic, vocational, and work-based learning experiences, alongside assistance with resume writing and interview preparation, the Job Corps program helps its students develop the tools they need to find stable, long-term, and well-paying jobs. Today, 125 Job Corps centers across the United States serve more than 60,000 youth annually, ensuring that employment is a goal that can be obtained regardless of one's personal circumstances.
To carry out the mission of the Job Corps program locally, the Detroit Job Corps Center has engaged with an extensive network of community stakeholders in Southeast Michigan; which allows it to offer its students a wide array of experiences as they seek to build their skills and determine their future career path. Among its partners are Quicken Loans, the United Auto Workers, the NAACP, many local elected officials, Southwest Solutions and the Wayne County Department of Homeland Security. With these connections, the Detroit Job Corps Center has been able to offer its students internships and community service activities with organizations that are making a difference in the Southeast Michigan region, organizations like: the Greening of Detroit, the United Way of Southeast Michigan, Forgotten Harvest and the U.S. Veterans Administration.
The record of Detroit Job Corps Center is embodied in the success of its graduates, 95 percent of whom end up obtaining a college degree, pursuing advanced training, finding fulltime employment or serving our nation in the Armed Forces. Of the 125 Job Corps centers across the nation, the Detroit center ranks second in graduate ranking and sixth in overall program ranking for the 2013-2014 period. In recognition of its success, the Detroit Job Corps Center has received a National Job Corps Gold Star Award for outstanding achievement each year since 2010.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the remarkable impact the Job Corps program has made over the last 50 years and it is my pleasure to specifically recognize the Detroit Job Corps Center for the work it has done to empower youth in the Southeast Michigan community to build a better future for themselves. As our economy becomes increasingly knowledge-based, the value and power of an education takes on an ever-growing importance. The work of the Job Corps program and the Detroit Job Corps Center is vital to ensuring that a quality education is available to all youth in our communities, regardless of their background or circumstances. I congratulate the Detroit Job Corps Center on its many achievements and wish its staff continued success in fulfilling the mission of the Job Corps program and realizing President Lyndon Johnson's dream of an America free of poverty.
____________________
