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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Kenyatta Johnson
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House adopts Johnson resolution to coordinate employment programs among state, federal government entities
HARRISBURG, May 4 – The state House today unanimously adopted a resolution sponsored by state Rep. Kenyatta Johnson, D-Phila., that calls for continued coordination of employment programs among state and federal government agencies.
The resolution (H.R. 765) urges the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to continue to cooperate as they negotiate and create the 2010 Subsidized Summer Youth Employment Program and the 2010 Subsidized Adult Employment Program.
These programs, which were funded by a $359.7 million allocation from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Emergency Contingency Fund of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, were to create employment subsidies, cash assistance or non-recurring short-term benefits for struggling Pennsylvanians. The funds are set to expire on Sept. 30, and have not yet been extended. However, several state and federal agencies have been working on ways to keep this funding in place.
"The purpose of my resolution is to offer encouragement and support to these agencies, who have already been in negotiations for several months to keep this program running and develop new programs that will help our unemployed adults and youth, families in need, and Pennsylvania businesses," Johnson said.
"The youth program helps roughly 10,000 youths and the adult program helps roughly 10,000 adults who are unemployed or a part of a TANF family," he added. "These programs would be employing around 20,000 people statewide. The subsidized employment programs supported in House Resolution 765 will continue to help these individuals."
Johnson's measure is part of PAJobsNow, a legislative package announced last month by the Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus aimed at putting more Pennsylvanians back to work. The package of bills focuses on creating and keeping jobs, growing businesses, and developing the state's work force.
Johnson said the package of bills will combine new initiatives with strategic investments in programs that are already in place to help move Pennsylvania forward.
"This legislative package utilizes our state tax dollars wisely by strengthening and enhancing programs that already exist and have been proven to work, like the subsidized youth and adult employment programs," Johnson said.
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