WASHINGTON, DC – In a letter to the Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, the Maine Congressional Delegation today expressed deep concern over the budget shortfall facing the Jobs Corps program and the suspension of all new student enrollees at Job Corps centers across the country. In the letter, Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree ask Acting Secretary Seth Harris for a full explanation of the reasons for the program’s budget shortfall and for a full explanation of the decision to suspend new enrollments.
“The purpose of Job Corps is to provide disadvantaged youth with the skills needed to obtain and hold a job, enter the Armed Forces, or enroll in advanced training or higher education. In addition to receiving academic and employment training, youth also engage in social skills training and other services to promote their overall well-being,” the letter reads. “As you well know, Job Corps is a vital piece of our workforce development system and is often the only option for the youth who enroll.”
There are two Jobs Corps centers in Maine: The Loring Jobs Corps Center in Limestone and the Penobscot Job Corps Center in Bangor.
Below is full text of the letter:
