In the latest edition of the Taxpayer's Tab, NTUF took an in-depth look at H.R. 1617, the Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act.
Introduced by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), the bill is designed to combat high levels of unemployment by offering federally subsidized job training and placement. It would continue funding for some of the programs that were introduced in President Obama's landmark 2009 stimulus bill -- the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) -- as well as implement new job programs. The legislation would offer jobs to eligible unemployed citizens through various "Corps" programs.
Some of the bill's main programs would include:
- Establishing a School Improvement Corps to renovate public school facilities;
- Funding a Community Corps for local maintenance jobs;
- Stabilizing teaching jobs through the Neighborhood Heroes Corps;
- Providing conservation jobs via the Park Improvement Corps;
- And more.
Although the bill does not include any specific offsets, Rep. Schakowsky has stated her intention to fund the bill's proposals by raising tax rates on households earning more than $1 million annually. By NTUF's estimates, the bill would increase federal spending by $227.9 billion over 5 years, or $45.6 billion annually.
For more details on this bill and its sponsor, check out the Tab online here. To receive future editions via email, be sure to sign up here.