Fiftieth Anniversary of Job Corps

Floor Speech

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, this evening, hundreds of individuals from across the United States will be gathering at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Job Corps.

Originally created by President Lyndon B. Johnson to wage the War on Poverty, the Job Corps program is one of the nation's most successful anti-poverty programs today. Job Corps empowers its participants to become productive members of society by helping them reach their goals, achieve educational aspirations, and learn a trade.

I have seen first-hand the positive impact Job Corps has had on the graduates of Turner Job Corps in my hometown of Albany, Georgia.

There is Marc Scotton of Atlanta, Georgia, who arrived at Turner Job Corps Center not believing in himself and not focused on his schoolwork. After successfully completing the program, he will begin an internship at an Atlanta radio station and plans to study Mass Communications at college.

There is Anna Washington, who first heard of Turner Job Corps through her church. She chose to pursue a certification as a Medical Administrative Assistant. Staying focused, Anna completed her career pathway in six months. A year and a half ago, she became a certified Clinical Medical Administrative Assistant and attended advanced training at the Atlanta Job Corps.

These two stories are but a few of the successes of the Turner Job Corps Center and the Job Corps program in general. Their achievements also are the result of the outstanding staff at these Job Corps Centers.

The young men and women who successfully complete their training at Job Corps Centers across the country receive much more than a certificate of completion. They gain valuable career and social skills that will serve them well throughout their lives--all in a supportive environment that encourages growth and success.

President Lyndon Johnson once said when describing his War on Poverty--``What we're trying to do--instead of people getting something for nothing, we're going to try to fit them where they can take care of themselves ..... That's our program. We don't want them to get something for nothing. We want to get them where they can carry their own weight.''

As the Co-Chairs of the Friends of the Job Corps Congressional Caucus, Congressman CHRISTOPHER GIBSON and I will work with the 79 other members of the Caucus to ensure that it continues to fulfill President Lyndon B. Johnson's goal now and into the future.

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