WASHINGTON, D.C. – As he continues seeking feedback from Montana and around the country, Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today thanked the National Job Corps Association for their support of Job Corps funding in the bill.

Their letter of support is below.

Dear Chairman Rehberg,

On behalf of the National Job Corps Association (NJCA) Board of Directors, membership and the 60,000 youth served by the 15,000 Job Corps staff across the country, we sincerely thank you for your good faith in Job Corps.  Specifically, we appreciate the strong investment you included in the proposed fiscal year (FY) 2012 House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (Labor-HHS) Appropriations bill.

The funds you recommended will support the academic remediation, career preparation and job readiness services Job Corps provides to the growing numbers of out-of-school, out-of-work youth each year at 124 facilities located across the nation, including the Anaconda, Trapper Creek and Kicking Horse Job Corps centers in Montana.  More importantly, at a time of economic uncertainty the Job Corps FY 2012 investment will support or create approximately 41,952 jobs in local communities, over 90 percent of which are private-sector jobs.

It is our strong hope that you will work closely with Senate Labor-HHS Chairman Tom Harkin to reach a compromise that highlights Job Corps’ successful, cost-effective services and its powerful economic impact through local jobs and a demonstrated return on investment.  We ask that you stand firm in your belief that “Job Corps works” and continue to advocate for a strong investment.  The entire Job Corps community looks forward to working with you to protect and strengthen our program.

Again, thank you for your support. 

Sincerely,

Richard F. Schubert, Chair
LaVera L. Leonard, President