Cohen Introduces Bill to Help Struggling Workers Find Jobs

[WASHINGTON, DC] – As many in Congress focused on getting out of town as quickly as possible last week, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) remained focused on his work helping Memphis and introduced the Jobs for Urban Sustainability and Training (JUST) in America Act. The legislation is designed to create jobs and provide training for Americans struggling to find work by eliminating tax breaks to major oil companies and putting the funds towards public works and job training programs for unemployed workers.

“The unemployed and underemployed need immediate assistance and Congress must do everything possible to help those who are suffering in this economy,” said Congressman Cohen. “My bill will help ensure taxpayer money is well-used while supporting job training and economic development programs that will pull Americans back to their feet at a critical time for our country.”

The JUST in America Act would allocate $10 billion in grants to cities with unemployment rates above the national average over 18 consecutive months for job training, public works, and other economic development projects. Half of the $10 billion will be used to immediately assist struggling Americans obtain new skills through job training programs. The remaining $5 billion will be used by cities with high unemployment rates to support the construction of essential public sector infrastructure and facilities necessary to generate and retain private sector jobs and attract private sector capital.