,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #egdh ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #c1 #bjbj,mr4 ,david ,scott of ,georgia 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,fudge1 and ,mr4 ,cleaver7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor ,a ,,bill ,to rebuild the ,nation's crumbling infrastructure1 transportation systems1 technology and computer networks1 and energy distribution systems1 by strongly and urgently encouraging the immediate recruitment1 employment1 and on-the-job earn as you learn training of young ,african ,americans who throughout history experience higher unemployment rates than any other race1 which is a national crisis4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,jobs1 ,on-the-,job ,earn-,while-,you-,learn ,training1 and ,apprenticeships for ,young ,african-,americans ,act4 #b4 ,findings and purpose 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,young ,african-,american men and women are the hardest hit by economic instability4 ,declared and affirmed by the ,federal ,reserve1 ,african ,americans face unemployment rates that are two to three times higher than their ,white counterparts for the last several decades4 7#b7 ,during economic recessions in #aigd-ge1 #aiha-hb1 #aiij-ia1 and #bjjh1 the ,african-,american community faced significantly higher unemployment rates than their ,white counterparts4 7#c7 ,even during times of economic growth1 ,african-,american communities experience prolonged financial vulnerability and delayed recovery4 ,unemployment rates decline at a slower rate for ,african-,american men1 and even a slower rate for ,african-,american women as compared to their ,white counterparts4 7#d7 ,this extraordinarily high unemployment rate has a terrible rippling impact on the breakdown of the family structure1 as men and women in this age group are in the primary child-producing ages4 7#e7 ,affirmed by the ,department of ,labor1 diversity and inclusion within the workforce benefits employees and businesses across all industries1 including apprenticeship programs1 which provide economic mobility to its participants4 7#f7 ,through the combined efforts of building trades unions and community partners at the ,state and local level1 there have been established more than #aej apprenticeship readiness programs across the ,united ,states that focus on creating pathways to ,registered ,programs for people of color1 women1 and veterans4 ,overall1 from #bjji to #bjai1 building trades unions and their signatory contractors have invested over #ajj1jjj1jjj in outreach efforts targeting under-represented communities to participate in apprenticeship readiness programs4 ,of the #d1hjj individuals who have successfully completed a building trades apprenticeship readiness program since #bjaf1 #gj percent were from communities of color and #bb percent were women4 7#g7 ,the disproportionately high-unemployment rates1 combined with low participation rates from ,african ,americans in registered apprenticeship programs not only constitute a national crisis but a national tragedy for the young ,african ,americans1 many of whom are fathers and mothers who1 without jobs1 are unable to provide for their families or home4 7b7 ,purpose ,the purpose of this ,act is to secure jobs1 on-the-job training1 and apprenticeships for young ,african ,americans ages #ah to #ci with the labor unions1 general contractors1 and businesses who will rebuild the ,nation's crumbling infrastructure in cities and communities throughout the ,nation4 #c4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 this ,act1 while rebuilding the crumbling infrastructure of this great ,nation1 will simultaneously help create good paying jobs and job training that will provide young ,african ,americans ages #ah to #ci with the technical skills1 computer capabilities1 and other skills necessary in this high technology-driven job market1 thus providing young ,african ,americans with highly developed skills that will make them very competitive and attractive to many employers2 7#b7 this ,act greatly exemplifies and strengthens the high nobility of purpose that is the founding grace of this great ,nation2 and 7#c7 the ,african-,american organizations described in section #d7;c7 have a long and rich history of working to improve the lives of ,african ,americans1 and can be very helpful in successfully reaching1 contacting1 and recruiting unemployed young ,african ,americans4 #d4 ,urging employment1 on-the-job training1 and apprenticeships for unemployed young ,african ,americans in rebuilding the ,nation's crumbling infrastructure 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,labor shall strongly and urgently encourage those labor unions1 general contractors1 and businesses1 who will rebuild the ,nation's crumbling infrastructure1 transportation systems1 technology and computer networks1 and energy distribution systems1 to actively recruit1 hire1 train1 and provide apprentice programs registered under the ,national ,apprenticeship ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #ej et seq47 to ,african ,americans ages #ah to #ci through their existing jobs and through apprenticeships and earn-while-you-learn programs1 registered under such ,act4 ,the ,secretary shall provide assistance to such labor unions1 general contractors1 and businesses through every means available under existing law to help coordinate the recruitment of such individuals for such jobs1 on-the-job training1 and apprenticeships4 7b7 ,coordination ,the jobs1 on-the-job training1 and apprenticeships made available by labor unions1 general contractors1 and businesses described in subsection 7a7 shall be conducted in conjunction with the ,secretary of ,labor and the labor unions and other associations which the ,secretary has identified as those primarily involved in the infrastructure rebuilding described in such subsection4 ,such coordination shall also be done in conjunction with the ,national ,joint ,apprenticeship and ,training ,committee4 7c7 ,recruitment ,the ,secretary shall coordinate with labor unions1 general contractors1 and businesses described in subsections 7a7 and 7b7 to recruit ,african ,americans for the jobs1 on-the-job training1 and apprenticeships described in subsection 7a7 by reaching out and seeking assistance from within the ,african-,american community1 churches1 and civil rights organizations that can offer valuable assistance to the ,secretary of ,labor1 the labor unions1 general contractors1 and businesses with identifying1 locating1 and contacting unemployed young ,african ,americans who want jobs1 on-the-job training1 and apprenticeships4