FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 6, 2007

Tierney Champions "Greener" Workforce

Washington, DC - Over the weekend, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation, which takes a historic leap forward in making our country more energy independent, growing our economy, creating new jobs, lowering energy prices, and addressing the global warming crisis. The House passed the measure by a vote of 241 to 172.

Congressman Tierney offered the following statement on the House floor in support of the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act (H.R. 3221), which includes legislation (the Green Jobs Act of 2007) he authored and spearheaded through the committee process:

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery
Congressman John Tierney (MA-06)
August 4, 2007
The Green Jobs Act of 2007

I rise today to highlight Title I of the energy bill before the House today - The Green Jobs Act of 2007, which previously had been passed by the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Let me begin by acknowledging and thanking Speaker Pelosi for making the issue of "green workforce development" a priority in her environmental agenda.

My co-sponsor, Hilda Solis of California, is appreciated for her work in ensuring that a broad cross-section of workers get in on the bottom floor of growing industries.

This innovative proposal - "green jobs" - will make $125 million a year available across the country to begin training workers for jobs in the clean energy sector.

Thirty-five thousand people per year can benefit from vocational education that will provide for them secure employment in this country.

Until now, the U.S. has not had a coherent strategy to address the growing labor demand in these "green" and "clean" energy sectors.

Title I of this bill will help a broad cross-section of workers get into these growing industries.

Green-collar jobs can provide living wages and upward mobility. For some, they will create a way out of poverty, even as they help improve our environment and buttress our national security by lessoning reliance on foreign oil.

We've passed legislation to increase Science, technology, energy and mathematics teachers; to educate more engineers and scientists.

Now we have the chance to make sure those who do not have degrees or who may not choose to attend college can also support a family and contribute to their communities.

Urban youth, retired veterans, struggling farmers and displaced workers from our manufacturing sectors can all get training through this proposal.

They will help met a growing labor need, as America seeks thousands of "green collar workers" to:

• Install millions of solar panels
• Weatherize buildings and homes
• Build and maintain wind-farms
• And more

These jobs are energy saving; air-quality improving; and carbon cutting - and they are local!

They mostly cannot be out sourced to other countries.

Solar panels and wind farms need to be built here.

Buildings to be retrofitted to save energy have their foundations on U.S. soil.

Today we can join Speaker Pelosi and the many numerous advocacy organizations that have worked hard to develop and expand the concept of "green jobs" - making sure that the benefits of a cleaner, greener economy are shared broadly at all income levels.

Special acknowledgement goes to the Ella Baker Center's Van Jones, whose passionate expressions have been liberally borrowed here, and whose personal "energy" has greatly advanced this idea.

The return in energy saving helped by "green jobs" can be enormous - the positive impact on lives from rewarding employment can be priceless.

Mr. Speaker, Title I of this bill can help provide America with the working muscle, practical experience and training, and industry-specific intelligence to change our nation's future.

I urge my colleagues to support the entire bill, being mindful that the Green Jobs Act of 2007 contributes specifically to its appeal.

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