WASHINGTON  -  U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) tomorrow will testify before the House Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans on behalf of her bill, H.R. 3433.  Emerson’s legislation would transfer authority over the Mingo Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center from the U.S. Department of the Interior to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

 

“Job training is vital to our retention of industries and employment opportunities in rural
Missouri.  The Mingo Job Corps not only represents a number of existing jobs in our community, but also the greater numbers of skilled workers who graduate from their programs each year.  The training and education offered there are essential to our competitive workforce,” Emerson said.

 

Currently, the Fish and Wildlife Service operated the Center with funds from the U.S.
Department of Labor.  In 2003, the Department of Labor announced that it would contract out Center operations.

 

“The Mingo Job Corps Center has proven its effectiveness in advancing the skills of hundreds of Missouri workers.  We must make every effort to keep the Center open and operating.  In rural America, we face many unique challenges.  Local institutions like the Job Center help level the playing field so we can retain the jobs we have and create new opportunities.”

 

If it is passed by the Committee on Resources, H.R. 3433 would next be considered by the full U.S. House of Representatives.