WASHINGTON - Today Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the Ranking Member of the Natural Resources Committee, called on Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) to immediately schedule hearings on the provisions in the American Jobs Act that fall within the jurisdiction of the committee. Specifically, Ranking Member Markey says the committee could address the high unemployment rate in Native American communities.
Ranking Member Markey renewed his call for additional hearings on other job-creating proposals, detailed in a letter sent to Chairman Hastings earlier this week.
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September 9, 2011
The Honorable Doc Hastings
Chairman
House Natural Resources Committee
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Chairman Hastings:
Last night President Obama laid out a legislative proposal, "The American Jobs Act," to help put more people back to work and ensure that our nation's economic recovery remains on track. I am writing you to request that you immediately schedule hearings on those parts of the President's proposal that impact on matters that lie within the Committee's legislative and oversight responsibilities.
Under Rule X of the House of Representatives, our Committee has special oversight responsibilities regarding all laws, programs, and government activities relating to Native Americans. Materials disseminated by the White House yesterday in connection with the President's speech indicate that as many of 80 percent of Native Americans currently are out of work on some reservations, and that the President's proposed American Jobs Act would:
* Provide tax cuts to benefit over 20,000 Native American-owned small businesses;
* Extend the payroll tax cut to an estimated 1.5 million Native American workers;
* Extend unemployment insurance for Native Americans, while providing targeted support for the long-term unemployed;
* Establish "Pathways Back to Work" that will support subsidized jobs and summer/year round jobs for low-income Native American youth and adults; and,
* Rebuild and revitalize communities across the country by targeting investments to the communities hardest hit by the recession, including $125 million for schools funded by the Bureau of Indian Education, $12.5 million for tribal colleges, and a new initiative to expand infrastructure employment opportunities for Native Americans.
In light of these prospective benefits, I believe our Committee should hold immediate hearings on the impact of the American Jobs Act on Native American communities. In addition, as the Committee proceeds with its hearings on other job creating initiatives within our jurisdiction this Fall, I would like to reiterate my desire for Committee hearings and legislative action on the various proposals set forth in my September 7, 2001 letter.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Si
