WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Charles Rangel was joined by other Congressional Progressive Caucus leaders on September 22, 2011, in unveiling the next round of emergency jobs legislation in the Congressional Progressive Caucus's “Rebuild the American Dream Framework.” The new initiatives focus on rebuilding our economy and implementing longer-term job creation strategies.

"The American people have waited too long for Congress under Republican leadership to pass serious job creation measures," Rangel said. "The public has demanded time and time again that we do something to jumpstart the kind of employment our economy demands. I hope my colleagues in Congress rise to the occasion and vote for these bills."

One of the bills in this framework was H.R. 2394 -The Rebuilding America’s Schools Act, introduced by Rangel. The bill would increase aid to renovate schools nationwide that are in dire need of repair. It allows the Qualified School Construction Bond (QSCB) and the Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB) programs to continue financing school construction projects through 2015. Historically, the QZAB bonds required a 10% match from private entities; The Rebuilding America's Schools Act waives this to ensure that QZAB funds go to the school districts that need to build new schools.

Rebuilding our schools fit into the President's jobs plan, as well as the CPC's jobs framework and the Democratic Leadership's emphasis on Building America’s Infrastructure to put people to work. It is also fully supported by the AFL-CIO, NEA, and Council of the Great City Schools, among many other organizations.

"In order for future generations of Americans to compete in the global economy, our top priority should be restoring desperately needed funds to education. The extension of the QSCBs will not only generate more jobs but also be an investment in the quality of our children's education which is critical for winning the future," said Rangel.

Established in 1997 under the Taxpayers Relief Act, QZAB funds are allocated for rehabilitation or repair of school buildings, equipment, course development, and teacher training. Participating schools must be located in an empowerment zone or enterprise community or have the reasonable expectation that at least 35% of the students will be eligible for free or reduced-cost lunches. QSCB was launched in 2009 to give school districts funds for construction, rehabilitation, repairs for public school facilities or land acquisitions for new buildings. The American Federation of Teachers December 2008 report estimated that the total school infrastructure need across the 50 states had risen to $254.6 billion.

The other bills introduced in the CPC framework were:

H.R. 589 - The Emergency Unemployment Compensation Expansion Act, introduced by Rep. Barbara Lee. It would provide a critical lifeline to the long-term unemployed by extending emergency unemployment compensation for an additional 14 weeks to those who have exhausted their benefits.

H.R. 870 - The Humphrey-Hawkins 21st Century Full Employment and Training Act, introduced by Rep. Conyers, would create a national Full Employment Trust Fund that would put the long-term unemployed and Americans living in our hardest-hit communities to work rebuilding our infrastructure, weatherizing homes, fixing our schools, tutoring our children, and expanding high speed broadband access in urban and rural communities.

The CPC released its “Framework to Rebuild the American Dream” earlier this month in response to overwhelming public feedback on the Speakout for Good Jobs Now! summer jobs tour which made a stop in New York City on June 30, 2011.