HR 1050, "A Living Wage, Jobs for All Act" incorporates the Campaign to Abolish Poverty's (CAP) 12-point plan to end poverty, puts into legislative language Franklin D. Roosevelt's "Economic Bill of Rights" and updates it for the 21st century. The linch pin of ending poverty is jobs for all who are able to work. These jobs must pay a living wage and a challenge of the 21st century is to create jobs and job training programs that sustain, not destroy our environment.

HR 1050 was written by Bertram Gross (deceased---click for photo and bio) and many people from the community in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Barbara Arms, community organizer for CESJ, was introduced to Bert Gross by Trudy Goldberg, chair of the National Jobs for All Coalition (NJFAC--click for link) The bill was originally introduced by Congressman Ronald V. Dellums and is currently sponsored by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Oakland, CA, District # (put in BLee's we site).

CAP has used HR 1050 primarily as a tool to educate people about economic issues and provide a legal framework that expresses our belief that Americans have a right to economic security as well as the protections and freedoms enumerated in our Bill of Rights. In 2008 our goal was to have 50 co-sponsors so the xxxx Committee would hold a hearing on the bill. We successfully have 20 members of the Progressive Caucus co-sponsoring the bill and then political activities for the November 2008 election took preceedence for citizens and candidates.

As citizens we regularly review the bill and update it. All are welcome to join us in this process.

!!! can't just single space-glitch!!! We even consider totally re-writting the bill and giving it a new number. CESJ/CAP is open to suggestions that will create the best bill which can serve as umbrella policy legislation for our anti-poverty work. xxxhow best to get people input on this via electronically?xxxx

To learn more about HR 1050 and its Co-Sponsors go to the Thomas web site. Once you are at this government site check to find if your representative is a co-sponsor.

This summary needs to be totally rewritten.

The following is a summary of HR 1050:
A Living Wage, Jobs for All Act - Declares that Congress affirms the basic economic rights and responsibilities under the 1944 "Economic Bill of Rights," while updating and extending it to include:

1. certain rights to decent jobs, income security for individuals unable to work for pay, a decent living for farm families, freedom from monopolies, decent housing, adequate health services, Social Security in old age, sickness, accidental injury, and unemployment, and education and work training; and
2. certain other rights relating to collective bargaining, a safe working environment, information on trends in pollution sources and products and processes that affect the well-being of workers throughout the world, voting and campaigning, and personal security.

Requires corporations registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to disclose fully in annual reports the impact of their activities on environmental quality and on the rights of other stakeholders, including employees, consumers, and communities. Requires each state to require all state-chartered corporations to submit such annual reports.

Directs the Attorney General to establish a computerized registration program of all corporations found guilty of violating a federal or state law. Authorizes the President to deny federal contracts, loans, or loan guarantees to non-compliant corporations.

Requires federal agencies and commissions, including the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, to help establish and maintain conditions under which all adult Americans may freely exercise the economic rights specified in 1944 and in this Act. Prohibits federal agencies or commissions from promoting recession, stagnation, or unemployment to reduce wages or inflation.

Directs the President to establish a full employment framework for the annual budget submitted to Congress that meets specified goals for:

1. quality of life and environment;
2. responsible, sustainable growth;
3. unemployment reduction; and
4. human rights.

Requires the Joint Economic Committee to oversee actions under this Act and submit an annual Concurrent Resolution on Economic Policy setting forth its proposed employment goals.

How do you feel about HR 1050? Vote below, your vote will be tabulated at the website WashingtonWatch.com will we continue to use this??