Congressman Introduces Jobs Bill With Corps in Mind

Late last week Rep. Phil Hare (D-IL), along with 50 co-sponsors, introduced H.R. 4290, the "New Deal for a New Economy Act". The bill is a measure to put Americans back to work by implementing a three year, $180 billion job creation and retention program, funded by unused monies from the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP). The legislation takes a three tiered approach. First, it calls for the establishment of a $31 billion per year public works and public interest grant program administered by the Department of Labor (DOL), similar to President Franklin Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration. Next, it would distribute $20 billion per year in direct aid to state and local governments to retain current workforce and make new hires. Finally, $9 billion per year would be spent on renovations to National Parks and Forests, similar to the Conservation Corps program of the 1970's. For more on the bill, you can visit Rep. Hare's website. You can find the text of the legislation on The Corps Network website.