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Public jobs created through manpower funds would thus be used to develop skills and abilities, with participants moving through such positions into permanent opportunities.

Federal funds already support almost 2 million jobs in State and local government. When enacted, General Revenue Sharing may support tens of thousands more.

Furthermore, last week the administration requested Congressional approval for the creation of at least 200,000 new public jobs for welfare recipients. A part of my welfare reform proposals, these new jobs would lead to non-subsidized employment for welfare recipients for whom other jobs are not available.

FITTING PROGRAMS TO PEOPLE

This new reliance on local flexibility and local initiative should benefit citizens and communities across the country.

For example:

-This Act would allow city governments to bring jobless ghetto residents onto city payrolls in education, health safety and anti-pollution work while preparing them to move into permanent jobs.

-This Act would allow State governments to reach out to isolated rural poor people with training and job programs shaped to their special needs.

-This Act would allow county governments to provide skill training and transitional employment to welfare recipients to move them toward self-support and new dignity.

It would, in short, allow each State or community to fit its programs to its people.

LOOKING AHEAD

In August 1969 I submitted the Manpower Training Act of 1969. It was one of three key proposals to begin reversing the tide of power which for a generation has flowed from the States and communities to Washington.

For over a year the Ninety-First Congress considered the proposed new manpower legislation, adding many new and creative ideas to our original proposals. Legislation was approved by both houses of Congress which entrusted important new manpower responsibilities to State and local governments. Unfortunately, the final bill also contained serious flaws, and I was forced to withhold my approval from it last December. With this message I am fulfilling my pledge then to submit new manpower legislation in 1971.

This bill builds upon the foundation that was laid during the last Congress.

It responds to Governors' and Mayors' appeals for increased responsibility and increased flexibility.

It makes manpower programs more readily accountable to the clients they serve and the taxpayers who support them.

It recognizes that transitional public service employment is an integral part of manpower policy-and places no ceiling on its extent within the manpower program.

H. Doc. 92-59

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It triggers extra Federal funds to counteract periods of rising unemployment..

In summary, this proposal is designed to give more effective help to those who need it, and to give Americans full return for their tax dollars spent on manpower assistance in the years ahead-full return in the form of unemployment brought down and kept down, and in the form of new income and achievement opportunities for millions of deserving men and women.

And its effects could reach far beyond the field of manpower: As it gives State and local governments the resources and authority to deal with their problems in a single area, it can build the confidence and competence of those governments in all areas. As it cuts away the layers of bureaucracy that have separated the people from one specific exercise of their governing power, it can help restore the people's faith in the democratic process generally. Teamed with my other Special and General Revenue Sharing proposals, it can help to launch the United States on a new era of revolutionary change for the better.

THE WHITE HOUSE, March 4, 1971.

RICHARD NIXON.

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H. Doc. 92-59

After Congress reconvenes in September, the Subcommittee on Employment, Manpower & Foverty will begin consideration of comprehensive manpower reform legislation.

This letter is to request that the Department of Labor be prepared to testify on comprehensive manpower reform legislation and on the implementation of the Emergency Employment Act (P. L. 92-54) at public hearings ·hich the Subcommittee will hold in September and October.

*

As you know, the Subcommittee's first priority at the moment is passing the legislation to extend the Economic Opportunity Act. Final Senate action on the bill is expected shortly after Congress returns on September 8.

During the course of the hearings, we expect that the Members of the Subcommittee will desire a detailed presentation by the Department on the implementation of the Emergency Employment Act. The Subcommittee is particularly interested in the procedures which have been developed to administer P. L. 92-54, including the coordination between the Department and state and local governments, the distribution formula for the Act, and the success of the Act in putting people to work in meaningful public service jobs. The experience gained in implementing the Emergency Employment Act should be most valuable in developing plans for legislating reforms in our overall manpower programs.

The Subcommittee will further wish to hear testimony from the Department concerning the full scope of manpower programs currently administered by the Federal Government. In order to provide the Subcommittee with sufficient information to allow it to consider the entire field of federal manpower programs, the testimony should delineate both those programs administered by the Department of Labor and those administered