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The Job Creation and Infrastructure Restoration Act of 1997 (H.R. 950)

From the New York State Communist Party
16 March 1997

The Job Creation and Infrastructure Restoration Act of 1997 (H.R. 950) was introduced by Representative Matthew Martinez (D-California). Co-sponsors are:

Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY)*
Rep. Jose Serrano (D-NY)*
Rep. Ron Dellums, (D-CA)
Rep. Esteban Torres (D-CA)
Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA)
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)*
Rep. Robert Rush (D-IL)
Rep. Thomas Foglietta (D-PA)
Rep. Thomas Manton (D-NY)*
Rep. Major Owens (D-NY)*
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA)
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)*
Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA)
Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY)*
Rep. Floyd H. Flake (D-NY)*
Rep. Eliot L. Engel (D-NY)*
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)*
Rep. Robert E. Andrews (D-NJ)
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)
Rep. Gary L. Ackerman (D-NY)*
Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA)
Rep. Maurice D. Hinchey (D-NY)*
Rep. Robert Scott (D-VA)
Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA)
Rep. George Brown D-CA)
Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CN)
Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ)
Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL)
Rep. Julia Dixon (D-CA)
Rep. Charles Schumer (D-NY)*
Rep. Bernie Sanders (Ind-VT)
Rep. James P. McGovern (D-MA)

(This list will be updated as additional Congressional Representatives sign on.)

* New York Representatives

Information compiled by:

National Labor Coalition For Public Works Jobs
10251 Paramount Blvd. Downey, CA 90241
Phone (310) 806-9928 FAX (310) 806-4918
Jerry Acosta - Chairman Art Rodriguez - Coordinator

6 Mar 97

Background and Summary:

H.R. 950, the Job Creation and Infrastructure Restoration Act of 1997

H.R. 950 was introduced in the 105th Congress on March 5, 1997 by Congressman Matthew Martinez of California. It has 33 co-sponsors. The primary purpose of this emergency federal jobs legislation is to provide much needed jobs at union wages to crisis ridden cities by putting the unemployed to work rebuilding our nation's infrastructure (schools, housing, hospitals, libraries, public transportation, highways, parks, environmental improvements, etc. $250 billion is authorized for emergency public works jobs over a five year period.

Congressman Martinez previously introduced this bill in the last Congress (as HR 1591) at the the request of over 50 prominent Labor leaders who formed the Los Angeles Labor Coalition for Public Works Jobs, which is why it is often referred to as the "Martinez Public Works Jobs Bill."

This is the most significant jobs legislation introduced in Congress since Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal established the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This bill is the WPA-type program for today. It has strong provisions which will put hundreds of thousands of unemployed building trades workers to work as well as provide jobs for victims of plant closures, welfare recipients who are parents, youth, and the long term unemployed. The public works projects which will be established under this bill will be built in communities with the highest levels of unemployment and with the greatest needs.

The goal of the New York Coalition for Public Works Jobs is to build the movement to pass the Martinez Jobs bill as part of the National Labor Coalition for Public Works Jobs. You can help by asking your union, community organization, or local government body to to join those who have already passed resolutions to endorse the bill. Such a resolution has been introduced in the New York City Council. Calling on additional Congressional Representatives to co-sponsor the bill is very important. We will be organizing petition campaigns, visits to elected officials, and demonstrations and other actions for a public works jobs program.

The main provisions of H.R. 950 are:

1. $250 billion for jobs and restoring infrastructure. Emergency grants to local governments of $25 billion over 3 years for construction, repair and renovation of public works projects. $225 billion over 5 years for jobs in community improvement projects - schools, housing, hospitals, parks, bridges, highways and transportation facilities, environmental improvements, etc.)

2. This bill protects workers' rights. It includes Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements, equal opportunity employment, and provides for job safety and a healthful work environment. Union apprenticeship training will be provided to new (especially young) workers.

A very significant provision is that public authorities shall, as a first option, seek Project Agreements with Building Trade Councils having jurisdiction. Project agreements are one of the most effective organizing tools for the Building Trades Unions. This has the advantage of bringing the combined strength of all the affiliated unions to bear on a single project, being far more effective than each union acting alone. Project agreements have become the way for Building Trades Councils throughout the country. No other bill with this provision has ever come before Congress!

3. Jobs are prioritized to unemployed building trades workers, workers who have lost their jobs due to plant or base closures, welfare recipients who are parents, youth who live in communities with the highest levels of youth unemployment.

4. Public Works Projects and Community Improvement Projects are prioritized for communities and areas which suffer the highest levels of unemployment.

5. $45 billion is designated for repair and renovation of schools, including elementary, secondary and higher learning institutions.

7 Mar 97

ENDORSEMENT FORM

... Send resolutions of support to:

National Labor Coalition For Public Works Jobs
10251 Paramount Blvd. Downey, CA 90241
Phone (310) 806-9928 FAX (310) 806-4918
Jerry Acosta - Chairman Art Rodriguez - Coordinator

If in New York, please send copies to the New York affiliate:

New York Coalition for Public Works Jobs
c/o Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2
386 Park Avenue South, Suite 401
New York, NY 10016-8846
FAX (212) 684-3987
Attn: Eddie Davis or Bill Davis

For more information on New York activities in support of the Martinez Bill, call Ed Davis or Bill Davis at (212) 532-7110.

Sample Endorsement Resolution for New York City Organizations

Job Creation and Infrastructure Restoration Act of 1997 (H.R. 950)

Whereas, losses of decent paying jobs caused by corporate and public sector downsizing, by export of jobs, by discriminatory employer practices, and new technology cause long term joblessness for large numbers of workers and youth entering the work force, a declining standard of living for working families, and the growing disparity between the very rich and the rest of us, and

Whereas, changes in federal, state and local welfare programs make the unemployment emergency even worse, place cruel burdens on recipients of assistance, force thousands of recipients to work at sub minimum pay without benefits or the right to organize and thus undercut job security for public and private sector workers, and have created no jobs, and

Whereas, inadequate federal funding has caused erosion of our country's infrastructure, limited economic growth, overtaxed state and local budgets, and failed to meet critical needs for schools, housing, mass transit, roads and other transportation facilities, hospitals, parks and recreation, environmental improvement, etc., as well as for jobs and job skills, and

Whereas, a growing number of elected officials and leaders of labor, civil rights, religious, academic, and community groups are calling for a "WPA-type program" to meet the needs for jobs and public works, and

Whereas, Congressman Matthew Martinez has introduced an emergency $250 billion public works jobs bill the "Job Creation and Infrastructure Restoration Act of 1997," (H.R. 950) in the 105th Congress with growing support from unions and a broad spectrum of individuals and organizations,

Be It Therefore Resolved that:

_________________________________________ endorses H.R. 950 the "Job Creation and Infrastructure Restoration Act of 1997" and will work for its passage in Congress by calling on our Congressional Representatives and Senators to co-sponsor and support the bill, and

Will join the New York Coalition for Public Works Jobs, and will work for passage of the bill with the Committee established for that purpose by the NYC Central Labor Council, and will seek support and endorsements from others, and

This Resolution and related information will be communicated to our membership, to bodies with which we are affiliated with a request that they also support and work for the bill, and to the New York Coalition for Public Works Jobs.

Return Only New York Resolutions to:

New York Coalition for Public Works Jobs
c/o Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2
386 Park Avenue South, Suite 401
New York, NY 10016-3987

FAX (212) 684-3987

For more information call Ed Davis or Bill Davis at (212) 532-7110.