Local Jobs Bill Would Help Education

This from Politics K-12:

Rep. George Miler, D-Calif., the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, introduced new jobs legislation that would include funding to help retain education jobs, plus aid for local communities, which they could use to hire teachers, law enforcement professionals, and others.

The bill is likely to come as welcome news to education advocates, who are worried that the jobs bill Congress approved earlier this month didn't include new money to help stave off layoffs at the district level at a time when schools are staring down the funding cliff. The House passed a jobs bill last December that included money to keep teachers employed, but that proposal hasn't yet gained much traction in the Senate.

Local Jobs for America Act from Rep Miller:

Helping Local Communities Create

A Million Public and Private Jobs

Our nation is going through one of the most difficult economic times in its history. We must do everything to help create jobs for those who are strug­gling to support their families. At the same time, the recession is forcing states and municipalities to cut jobs that are critically important – teachers, police, firefighters, childcare workers, and others. The Local Jobs for Amer­ica Act will provide our economy a shot in the arm by putting a million people to work by restoring these services in local communities.

The Local Jobs for America Act will create a million public and private jobs in local communities this year.

Support will be targeted directly to states and municipalities with the greatest number of people out of work to restore important local services. The Local Jobs for America Act will help ensure that local com­munities can still operate essential services.

Because of the recession, many local communities have cut back on education, public safety, childcare, health care, education and transporta­tion. As a result, families who rely on these services are suffering the cost of these cutbacks. This bill will help prevent state and local tax increases.

By supporting the services local communities deem most necessary, the bill will help local governments avoid having to choose between eliminat­ing services and raising taxes. Creating local jobs will stimulate local businesses and create more jobs in the local economy.

By increasing employment in local communities, families will be able to start spending again at their neighborhood businesses and favorite restaurants. This will help spur additional jobs for local small businesses. The Local Jobs for America Act will fund salaries for private sector on-the-job training to help local businesses put people back to work.

Specifically, the Local Jobs for America Act invests:

• $75 billion over two years to local communities to hire vital staff
• Funding for 50,000 on-the-job private-sector training positions

The bill also includes provisions already approved by the House:

• $23 billion this year to help states support 250,000 education jobs
• $1.18 billion to put 5,500 law enforcement officers on the beat
• $500 million to retain, rehire, and hire firefighters