(This is a guest blog post by Rep. Paul Tonko, Education and Labor Committee Member.)
As we celebrate Earth Day for the 39th year – by volunteering in our local areas through our own individual efforts and raising awareness globally – we must all do our part. This year represents a great opportunity for all of us to ensure a cleaner, safer and greener environment. We can and we must achieve these ends. A major component of shifting our economy from one that pollutes, relies on carbon based fuels and approaches problem solving from an antiquated angle is no longer acceptable. We must all go beyond the traditional “Think Globally, Act Locally” mantra to curb our environmental impacts. We can act personally by lowering our thermostats, using compact fluorescent bulbs and weatherizing our homes. We can act locally by creating no idle zones, making our cities and towns more pedestrian friendly and driving energy efficient vehicles. We can act regionally by building on mass transit, supporting high speed rail initiatives and thinking more strategically. We can act nationally by passing a cap and trade bill, supporting improved efficiency measures and catalyzing a green energy work force.
Here in Congress we have taken the first steps towards greening our workforce through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
As we celebrate Earth Day for the 39th year – by volunteering in our local areas through our own individual efforts and raising awareness globally – we must all do our part. This year represents a great opportunity for all of us to ensure a cleaner, safer and greener environment. We can and we must achieve these ends. A major component of shifting our economy from one that pollutes, relies on carbon based fuels and approaches problem solving from an antiquated angle is no longer acceptable. We must all go beyond the traditional “Think Globally, Act Locally” mantra to curb our environmental impacts. We can act personally by lowering our thermostats, using compact fluorescent bulbs and weatherizing our homes. We can act locally by creating no idle zones, making our cities and towns more pedestrian friendly and driving energy efficient vehicles. We can act regionally by building on mass transit, supporting high speed rail initiatives and thinking more strategically. We can act nationally by passing a cap and trade bill, supporting improved efficiency measures and catalyzing a green energy work force.Here in Congress we have taken the first steps towards greening our workforce through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
We know that we must modernize our training techniques in our schools
and universities. In the Recovery Bill we provided $48.6 billion for
services to low-income students, students with disabilities, and career
tech to modernize schools and colleges, which would include facility
repairs, updating technology, and making facilities more
energy-efficient.
Congress must also assist in training workers for 21st century jobs. The Recovery Bill provides nearly $4 billion to prepare adult, youth and dislocated workers for green jobs, and other emerging industries, including training for retrofitting buildings, green construction and production of renewable energy. It also includes $1.2 billion to create job opportunities for younger Americans, including summer jobs.
Congress invested in early education by providing $2.1 billion for Head Start, and Early Head Start, which provides comprehensive development services for low-income preschool children, infants and toddlers. These investments will create 50,000 new jobs, increasing demand for early educators, transportation, nutrition providers, and more.
These investments now, in education and our children, will pay massive dividends in our future. They will create American businesses and American jobs for America’s working families. Whether or not we, as a country, move towards a new green economy now or not, we must acknowledge that other countries in the world are ahead of us on this front. It is important to change our way of thinking and I believe this year’s Earth Day, along with the bold visions and goals of the new Obama Administration offer us a springboard to launch into the future of our economy – one that finally thinks outside of the barrel and is able to offer greener and cleaner outcomes.
Congress must also assist in training workers for 21st century jobs. The Recovery Bill provides nearly $4 billion to prepare adult, youth and dislocated workers for green jobs, and other emerging industries, including training for retrofitting buildings, green construction and production of renewable energy. It also includes $1.2 billion to create job opportunities for younger Americans, including summer jobs.
Congress invested in early education by providing $2.1 billion for Head Start, and Early Head Start, which provides comprehensive development services for low-income preschool children, infants and toddlers. These investments will create 50,000 new jobs, increasing demand for early educators, transportation, nutrition providers, and more.
These investments now, in education and our children, will pay massive dividends in our future. They will create American businesses and American jobs for America’s working families. Whether or not we, as a country, move towards a new green economy now or not, we must acknowledge that other countries in the world are ahead of us on this front. It is important to change our way of thinking and I believe this year’s Earth Day, along with the bold visions and goals of the new Obama Administration offer us a springboard to launch into the future of our economy – one that finally thinks outside of the barrel and is able to offer greener and cleaner outcomes.
