Lest We Forget: President Kennedy's Jobs Program 1962 and so much more

[Omaha Steve]

President Kennedy signs off on a $900 million public-works bill for projects in economically depressed areas - 1962



At the link you can read several items JFK passed over his short time in office that did so much for the MIDDLE CLASS. Dependent child aid, unemployment, job training for teens, area development aid 1961, Federal Unemployment Compensation Extension , Flood Disaster Victims — Study , etc...

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1962

Accelerated Public Works Program
S. 2965 — Public Law 87-658, approved September 14, 1962
Enacted into law a bill designed to relieve some of the unemployment problems throughout the 50 States as well as provide for immediate public works programs.

Authorized an immediate $900 million public works program in areas of chronic unemployment to initiate or accelerate projects already authorized or State or local projects for which Federal aid has been previously authorized.

Areas eligible are those designated by the Secretary of Labor as areas of substantial unemployment during at least 9 of the preceding 12 months or designated by the Commerce Secretary as "redevelopment areas" under the Area Redevelopment Act.

Earmarked $300 million of the $900 million to rural areas designated for redevelopment under the Area Redevelopment Act.

Authorized the President to allocate funds appropriated to the heads of the departments and agencies responsible for construction of Federal projects or Federal aid to State or local projects.

Allocated funds to be subject to requirements in the authorizing legislation except provisions limiting allocations of funds among the States and limiting total amount of grants for specified period of time.

Authorized Federal share of cost to be at least 50 percent, and up to 75 percent if the State or local government is not financially capable of raising 50 percent of the funds.

Authorized the President to prescribe rules, regulations, and procedures to assure adequate consideration of the relative needs of eligible areas such as severity and duration of unemployment, the income levels, and the extent of underemployment in eligible areas.

Limited to 10-percent commitments to any one State.

Required that projects to receive aid must be initiated or accelerated within a reasonably short time, must meet an essential public need, must contribute significantly to reducing local unemployment and not be inconsistent with locally approved comprehensive plans, and must be able to be substantially completed within 12 months.

Prohibited use of funds, directly or indirectly, for planning or construction of schools or other educational facilities.

Required that financial assistance provided under this act must produce a net increase in expenditures by the applicant for capital improvement projects approximately equal to the amount of non-Federal funds for the aided project.

In signing the bill into law, President Kennedy stated:

I am today approving S. 2965, a bill which authorizes the appropriation of $900 million to initiate and accelerate Federal public works projects and to provide Federal assistance for a similar expansion of local public works to relieve unemployment and spur economic expansion in those areas of the country which have failed to share fully in the economic gains of the recovery from the 1960-61 recession.

Enactment of this bill is a significant milestone in our effort to strengthen the economy and provide a greater measure of economic security to the unemployed. It is an important companion measure to other efforts already underway. The Area Redevelopment Administration has begun the long difficult task of stimulating the creation of new, permanent jobs in communities which have suffered economic reverses for the longest periods. Through the manpower development and training program, tens of thousands of jobless men and women will soon be learning the skills needed to improve their employment prospects and productivity. Because of expanded distribution of surplus agricultural commodities, thousands of destitute families now have at least the essentials of a decent diet.

I shall shortly transmit to Congress a request for the appropriation of funds necessary to get the program underway. To insure that prompt use is made of the new authority as soon as funds are available, I am today issuing an Executive order designating the Secretary of Commerce as the coordinator of this program. Four principles will guide his efforts:

The funds will be invested in worthwhile and necessary projects designed to make eligible communities better places in which to live and work.

The jobs created will be made available to the maximum feasible extent to the unemployed within the eligible communities.

The program will be administered according to the highest standards of impartiality, economy, and scrupulous honesty.

The program will become operative as quickly as prudent management and respect for the foregoing principles permit.

[Hart2008]

1. Wow! Keynesian economics without the supply side tax breaks! What a real Dem policy should be!

:wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow:

[NCarolinawoman]

2. You said it!!!

:applause:



Why in the world don't people learn from history? The present politicians seem to think that all history began with Ronald Reagan. Politicians in both parties.

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[stevedeshazer]

3. Thanks, Steve

That is a really great reminder.

+1.

[TBF]

4. Recommend. nt

[Omaha Steve]

5. Kick