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WASHINGTON, DC – On Thursday, Rep. John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, Davis, Yuba City) joined Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) in introducing the Job Opportunities between Our Shores (JOBS) Act, a bill to promote advanced manufacturing in California and throughout the United States and give dislocated workers the training and skills they need to find new jobs in growing industries.
“While we have seen traditional manufacturing jobs disappear or go overseas, jobs in advanced manufacturing continue to grow. Unfortunately, many advanced manufacturers are facing a growing gap between the new jobs being created and workers with the unique skills needed to fill them,” said Torres. “With the global economy only becoming more and more competitive, this bill will help create comprehensive, demand-driven training programs to ensure the jobs of the future are created right here in California and American workers are able to stay ahead of the curve.”
The JOBS Act would authorize the Secretary of Labor to initiate pilot projects between advanced manufacturers and local community colleges, state colleges, and workforce investment boards in order to create education and training programs focused in the field of advanced manufacturing.
Eligible recipients must demonstrate their capacity to teach advanced manufacturing concepts and how they will help workers develop the skills that will lead to an industry-recognized credential.
“Over the past several years, I’ve heard a constant theme every time I convene my Advisory Committee of manufacturers in California’s Third Congressional District,” said Garamendi. “How do manufacturers find the skilled workers they need to create a quality product, expand their businesses, and bring their products to market? This is a problem affecting all manufacturers trying to Make It In California and Make It In America. I join Congresswoman Torres in introducing this bill because it would directly address these issues, bridging the skills gap so our workers can join this critical sector of the economy. It’s a win for all.”
The JOBS Act was initially introduced in the 114th Congress based on recommendations from Torres’s district-wide Job Creation Listening Tour and was inspired by a program at Chaffey College, where the institution received $15 million from the Department of Labor and the Department of Education to create a STEM Education Business Incubator Center at California Steel Industries (CSI) to improve manufacturing training in the region.
The text of the JOBS Act can be found here.
The bill has been cosponsored by Reps. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Brenda L. Lawrence (D-MI), Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), and Darren Soto (D-FL).
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SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) passed AB 920 off of the Assembly Floor last week despite intense utility opposition.
AB 920 will maintain a place in the energy market for renewable resources such as geothermal, biomass and biogas.
These resources provide high-paying jobs across California – particularly in Colusa, Lake, Yolo and Sonoma counties, which are located in her Fourth Assembly District – as well as improve air quality and help ensure our electricity supply is reliable.
Statewide goals to increase California’s reliance on renewable energy have been very successful in reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions, but have not successfully ensured that all renewable resources are properly valued for their climate change, air quality, and economic benefits.
“Geothermal and biomass energy facilities provide hundreds of vital jobs in the communities I represent where devastating levels of unemployment continue in the wake of the Great Recession,” said Aguiar-Curry. “Geothermal resources must be used or the facilities die. And, biomass facilities are critical to ensuring our forestry and agricultural waste is used for energy rather than emitting poisonous methane or fueling wildfires.”
Biomass and geothermal facilities contribute property taxes and royalties to local economies, in addition to being job creators.
Tax credits and tax exemptions for renewables like wind and solar, coupled with low labor costs, undercut the market. As a result, more than 75 percent of the renewable energy in California comes from wind and solar.
AB 920 will help level the playing field so renewable resources that are economic drivers have a fair chance to complete for contracts.
“Wind and solar are important renewable resources, but they can’t be the only resources we rely on,” said Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry. “Energy coming from wind and solar varies with the weather and needs to be balanced with reliable renewable energy. We can do that with geothermal and biomass, or let utilities move to a permanent reliance on fossil fuels like coal and natural gas.”
AB 920 passed 75-0 on the Assembly Floor with Democrat coauthor Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) and Republican coauthor Brian Dahle (R-Bieber) voting Yes.
AB 920 will move to the Senate where Aguiar-Curry will continue to advocate for reliable renewable energy market in California.
Aguiar-Curry represents the Fourth Assembly District, which includes all of Lake and Napa counties, parts of Colusa County, all of Yolo County except West Sacramento, Dixon in Solano County and Rohnert Park in Sonoma County. Visit her online at www.asm.ca.gov/aguiar-curry .
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