Please Help! [View all]

I'd like to ask people to help me on an important issue regarding Job Corps. As you likely know, recently the National Job Corps Association filed a motion for a temporary restraining order on the Department of Labor, to prevent them from closing 99 campuses nationwide. That would obviously leave a large number of youth without the support the need ….. and a lot of hard-working people out of a job.

The Department of Labor used statistics from COVID19 years to justify closed Job Corps. Obviously, the campuses had fewer students then, thus allowing them to make Job Corps look like an expensive way to serve fewer youth. It does not take into consideration how many students are currently enrolled. That is not okay.

This issue should not be political. It should be as patriotic as George Foreman waving the American flag in the ring when he won gold in Mexico City in 1968. But it is not limited to a few. One of my son's best friends is in a long-term relationship with a lady who graduated from Job Corps. I've had the pleasure of getting to know her over the years. She's come from a very tough upbringing, and Job Corps got her on a very different path. She is an example of the type of people our society needs.

I have spoken with people connected to Job Corps and to assistants to politicians about the need to protect this program. All of them request that we get as many people as possible to call their elected representatives – in both the House and Senate – to express their support for Job Corps. While a judge did issue a temporary order, with a hearing to be held later this month, they said it is important that we make these calls now. And I'd like to suggest calling those outside of your district or state.

Thank you!
H2O Man