News Releases Archive

• Sep 13, 2011 How Many More Have to Fall into Poverty Before We Say Enough? "How many more have to fall into poverty before we say enough? That should be the question every American asks the nation's policymakers as they begin debating President Obama's jobs package and how to cut more than a trillion dollars from the nation's deficit over the next decade.
• Sep 09, 2011 CLASP Statement on the President's American Jobs Act The American Jobs Act that President Obama announced last night is a significant step forward in the right direction. It recognizes that we need broad programs to promote hiring by investing in infrastructure and stimulating consumer spending as well as programs targeted toward the most vulnerable workers.
• Sep 01, 2011 Who's Working This Labor Day? It's alarming enough that unemployment has hovered around 9 percent or more since April 2009, but equally troubling is that workers are remaining unemployed longer and many are dropping out of the labor force altogether. This trend threatens to turn far too many of America's once productive workers into permanently unemployed and unemployable people.
• Aug 01, 2011 CLASP Statement on Debt Ceiling Compromise Two critical pieces are absent from the compromise--an understanding and empathy for what ordinary Americans need during this time of high unemployment and increasing poverty and a principle of shared sacrifice in which corporations and the wealthy are not exempt from their role in alleviating the nation's debt crisis by ending corporate tax loopholes and tax breaks for the richest among us.
• Jun 29, 2011 Aging Population Requires Broader Higher Education Funding and Policies Just as the nation's economy is demanding that more workers have some postsecondary education or training, the traditional source of such workers - high school graduates - is leveling off and even declining in some states. A new paper released today by CLASP, the Center for Law and Social Policy, and the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) demonstrates why ensuring more adults have access to and complete college is critical for the nation's continuing economic competitiveness.
• Jun 15, 2011 Proposed Balanced Budget Amendment Is Off Balance, Harmful for all Americans The proposed balanced budget amendment comes as federal lawmakers are having a wide conversation about deficit reduction that also includes the FY 2012 budget, the nation's debt ceiling as well as its long-term debt. While these conversations are important, they are incomplete. The nation can't begin having honest discourse about its finances until lawmakers begin to take a broad look at spending and revenue. And lawmakers must make certain that plans to balance the nation's budget don't harm the most vulnerable among us.
• Apr 05, 2011 House Budget Proposal Is Political and Disingenuous As both the House and Senate continue to debate FY 2012 funding, we urge them to chart a true path to prosperity-one that feeds and clothes those in need, provides affordable health care, and supports job training and education from birth through college while making appropriate and reasonable changes to the tax code and entitlement programs.
• Mar 02, 2011 House Proposal to Cut Workforce Investment Ignores Persistently High Unemployment The House proposal to cut funding for programs providing critical job training to unemployed and underemployed workers is highly counterproductive during this time of persistently high unemployment. The proposed cuts to the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) come as a new CLASP report cites early evidence that enhanced funding through the Recovery Act enabled a significant percent of WIA participants to land jobs during the worst of the economic downturn.
• Feb 17, 2011 218,000 Children Could Lose Head Start Services if House Proposal Passes With one in four young children living in poverty, the need for Head Start is greater than ever.The cut proposed in the House not only will hurt our most vulnerable children, it is the definition of penny-wise and pound foolish. National studies confirm that Head Start has improved the lives of both children and their families.
• Feb 16, 2011 New Report Shows Recovery Act Dollars Worked A review released today of the subsidized jobs programs operated in 2009 and 2010 with TANF Emergency Fund dollars found that they were highly effective at putting unemployed people to work in private sector jobs during the economic downturn.
• Feb 14, 2011 Balancing the Budget Requires Honest, Balanced Discourse "Policymakers across the political spectrum have said the budget shouldn't be balanced on the backs of the vulnerable. Yet much of public debate on the federal budget and deficit reduction has focused on reigning in domestic, discretionary spending, including significant cuts in programs that aid vulnerable children and families. It's deeply disturbing that this is the direction of the conversation, especially since it's been just two short months since lawmakers voted to extend tax cuts for the wealthy.
• Jan 19, 2011 Sargent Shriver a Champion of Low-Income People The death of Sargent Shriver is a great loss for this country. The legacy he leaves as a champion of low-income people is truly extraordinary, and we are forever grateful for his service to reduce poverty and secure equal justice for all Americans.
• Jan 12, 2011 Community Leaders Convene to Determine How to Reclaim the Dream Hundreds of community leaders from across the nation are convening to advance an ambitious national agenda to substantially reduce social and economic disparities for black men and boys. The meeting will lay the ground for the serious change outlined in a new report, We Dream a World.
• Dec 03, 2010 Wrong Time for Wrong Policy Debate Unemployment is high, poverty is up, and millions more are living close to the edge. Today's employment situation report should give the nation's policymakers pause and motivation to change the tone of the national policy debate and get something done to improve the lot of families. A good start would be passing the unemployment benefits extension so that struggling workers and their families will not lose this important lifeline
• Nov 03, 2010 Time to Put Ideology Aside and Address the Needs of Ordinary Americans The mid-term election for 2010 is over and the policy climate has changed, but the underlying issues that affect low-income people and their families have not. The nation continues to face persistently high unemployment, and a mismatch between skills and available jobs. For low-skill workers and people of color, unemployment is at crisis levels.
• Sep 24, 2010 Congress Set to Let TANF Emergency Fund Expire The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Emergency Fund, a federal program that has created subsidized jobs for more 250,000 people struggling to find work in the tough economy is set to expire Sept. 30 if Congress fails to act. "With nearly five people looking for work for every job opening, it does not make sense to end this successful program," said Elizabeth Lower-Basch, a senior policy analyst at CLASP.
• Sep 16, 2010 'We Should Collectively Be Appalled' It is often said that the measure of a nation's greatness is how it treats the most vulnerable. By that standard, today's poverty data demonstrate that we are falling far short. We should collectively be appalled that nearly one in seven Americans live in poverty and millions more live near poverty.
• Sep 13, 2010 Poverty Data: CLASP Experts Available to Provide Insight and Discuss Policy Solutions This Thursday, the U.S. Census Bureau will release its annual data on income, poverty and health insurance coverage. Early projections reveal this year will reflect the single largest yearly increase since Census began tracking the federal poverty rate in 1959. CLASP, the Center for Law and Social Policy, experts will be available to discuss the data and its implication for children,youth and families as well as for the nation's policy priorities.
• Jul 20, 2010 U.S. Senate Moves to Pass Benefits Extension and Do Right by American Workers Since early June, millions of struggling workers have been waiting for the Senate to put politics aside and do the right thing for workers and their families. Long-term unemployment is the highest it's been since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began keeping track. Extending unemployment insurance benefits means more families can keep a roof over their heads and put food on the table.
• Jul 01, 2010 Lawmakers' Inaction on Unemployment Extension and Jobs Bill Puts Recovery at Risk The latest unemployment numbers will be out Friday morning, and many experts project the numbers will not be good. Yet in spite of record high long-term unemployment, widespread economic insecurity, and a fragile economic recovery, lawmakers repeatedly have failed to address the nation's pressing needs.
• Jun 24, 2010 Senate Once Again Fails to Pass Critical Jobs Legislation
• Apr 20, 2010 Dorothy I. Height's Life's Work Embodied CLASP's Core Mission The death of Dorothy I. Height is a great loss for the nation and for those who believe that all people residing in the United States should be treated equally and with dignity and respect.
• Feb 16, 2010 One Year Later: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Much of the recent public discourse on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has focused on whether it created a quantifiable number of jobs and to what degree it has and continues to stimulate the economy. These are important policy questions, but we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that "reinvestment" in the nation's social infrastructure is a significant piece of the Recovery Act and equally essential to short- and long-term recovery.
• Feb 05, 2010 Slight Drop in Unemployment Promising But No Reason to Cheer Today's unemployment report showed some glimmers of light, but also how far we have to go before a true recovery. The nation's overall unemployment rate declined by .3 percent and there was a significant drop in involuntary part-time employment. Unfortunately, long-term unemployment continued to rise and low-skill workers and minority workers continue to face very difficult challenges in the labor market. Projections are that these populations are likely to experience very high rates of unemployment for quite some time.
• Feb 01, 2010 President's Budget Proposal Includes Critical Investments in Programs That Affect Low-Income People The president's budget recognizes that a key to shared, long-term economic prosperity is investing in programs that provide low-income people with the supports and tools they need to move out of poverty.
• Jan 27, 2010 CLASP Statement Regarding State of the Union In this time of increasing economic insecurity, rising unemployment and increasing poverty, the American public demands bold solutions that will put people to work and provide them with a foundation for long-term economic security.
• Jan 08, 2010 Prolonged High Unemployment Could Have Serious Long-Term Consequences Unemployment depletes family resources, which has negative consequences for children. And for young people, joblessness early in their careers diminishes their long-term career prospects.
• Dec 18, 2009 2010 Appropriations Measure Includes Money to Help Disadvantaged Individuals Get Jobs Earlier this week, President Obama signed the FY 2010 appropriations bill for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, which for the first time provides federal funding for transitional jobs to help people with barriers to employment, such as ex-offenders and long-term welfare recipients, enter the workforce.
• Dec 17, 2009 Jobs Measure a Good First Step for Low-Income Workers, But More Targeted Interventions Are Needed If the jobs situation is a problem for the nation, it is a profound crisis for low-income workers and their families, especially people of color, workers who lack some postsecondary credentials, and disadvantaged youth.
• Dec 04, 2009 Jobs Creation Should Also Focus on Low-Income, Low-Skill Populations As the nation's lawmakers consider strategies to get more Americans back to work, they should weigh a range of policy solutions that will ensure workers and families hardest hit have the supports they need to access jobs and meet their basic needs.
• Nov 06, 2009 Bill to Extend Unemployment Comes as Unemployment Reaches Double Digits President Obama today signed a bill that will extend unemployment insurance for millions of workers who are on the verge of exhausting their benefits. The bill signing comes amid other news that the economy is showing signs of recovery, though unemployment at 10.2 percent is at its highest level in 26 years.
• Nov 04, 2009 New Report Reveals Higher State Poverty Rates Based on Alternative Measure The percent of Americans living in poverty is higher than the current poverty measure captures, according to a new CLASP report that, for the first time, lists how poverty rates change in each state using a modern poverty measure.
• Oct 29, 2009 Recovery Remains a Long Way Off for Unemployed and Low-Income Americans
• Aug 26, 2009 Sen. Kennedy a Prolific Advocate for Low-Income Americans Sen. Kennedy's deep conviction for social justice was evident in the many causes he championed and the bills that bear his name.
• Jul 16, 2009 American Graduation Initiative Bold Step Toward Transforming Workforce The Obama Administration's proposed American Graduation Initiative represents a bold federal effort to help more Americans gain the knowledge and skills they need to get ahead and that our country needs to compete globally.
• Apr 03, 2009 Rising Unemployment Calls for Swift Use of Existing Policy Tools, and New Policy Solutions The nation's continually rising unemployment rate underscores the urgent need for states to take full advantage of provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that provide relief for workers facing economic distress, and it calls for making better use of policy solutions designed to help workers through tough economic times.
• Mar 31, 2009 New Website Helps States Working to Boost Economic Competitiveness Shifting Gears is a Joyce Foundation-sponsored initiative that aims to promote regional economic growth by aligning adult education, workforce development and postsecondary education in five Midwestern states - Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.
• Mar 27, 2009 Under Used Work Sharing Program Could Help Curb Rising Layoffs Work sharing, a program that allows employers to reduce work hours instead of jobs, could provide an alternative to layoffs and help ease mounting unemployment, according to Work Sharing-an Alternative to Layoffs for Tough Time, a paper published today by CLASP.
• Mar 25, 2009 CLASP Statement on House and Senate Budget Proposals We are pleased that both bills presented today by chairmen of the House and Senate Budget Committees reflect the priorities laid out by the President and include investments in health care reform, education, and clean energy, while committing to fiscal responsibility and reducing the federal deficit.
• Mar 20, 2009 Souring Economy Requires Investment in Programs That Help Families The budget projections that Congressional Budget Office released today show that the nation is facing an even tougher economic environment than anyone projected even a month ago. At this critical moment, it is all the more important that the nation's policymakers assist struggling families to stay afloat and make sound investments in families and the nation's economic future.
• Feb 13, 2009 Economic Recovery Package Signicant Step Toward Shoring Up the Safety Net The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that lawmakers are expected to send to President Obama in the coming days is a significant and welcome first step in shoring up the nation's tattered safety net and ensuring the most vulnerable Americans share the benefits of economic recovery.
• Feb 10, 2009 Senate Recovery Package Addresses Urgent Needs We are pleased that senators came to a compromise and passed the recovery act. Ordinary Americans continue to feel the everyday consequences of slow action, including mounting job losses and trouble meeting basic needs such as food and shelter. Low-income Americans are especially hard hit by this recession and in need of the jobs, tax relief and other provisions this bill provides.
• Jan 30, 2009 Economic Recovery Package Provides Needed Child Care Assistance The economic recovery proposal includes a much-needed boost to child care assistance that will help more low-income working parents stay employed and access quality child care for their children
• Jan 30, 2009 Administration's New Taskforce And Action On Job Quality A Win For Workers President Obama and Vice-President Biden have chosen to put the issue of job quality front and center. As the President said this morning, we need to create 'not just any jobs,' but good jobs that enable workers to manage their work and family responsibilities and that open the door to the American Dream.
• Jan 21, 2009 CLASP Congratulates New Administration The swearing in of President Barack Obama was an historic and moving moment for the country. As the nation celebrated, it did so knowing the President Obama has many tough challenges ahead.
• Jan 16, 2009 Recovery Package Shores Up Critical Safety Net Programs This economic recovery proposal demonstrates that our nation's lawmakers get it. Long-term economic recovery requires common sense measures that will shore up the economy and ensure all Americans share in the benefit of recovery.
• Jan 14, 2009 Economic Recovery Legislation Should Shore Up the Safety Net
• May 28, 2008 House Briefing on Kinship Care
• May 28, 2008 Senate Briefing on Kinship Care
• Feb 05, 2008 President's Budget Hurts Low-Income, Working Families
• Feb 04, 2008 President's Budget Says Children Don't Count
• Jan 29, 2008 CLASP Urges Senate to Act to Protect Low-Income Families
• Aug 29, 2007 CLASP Argues That U.S. Workers Need Better Jobs
• Mar 08, 2007 CLASP Seeks Nominations of Innovations in Workplace Flexibility
• Feb 22, 2007 CLASP Announces Cartoon Captioning Contest
• Feb 05, 2007 CLASP Finds 2008 Budget Neglects the Child Care Needs of Working Families
• Feb 02, 2007 CLASP Seeks Nominations of Intermediary Organizations that Improve Job Quality
• Dec 05, 2006 New CLASP Initiative Promotes Job Quality and National Prosperity
• Nov 21, 2005 CLASP Supports Senator Kennedy's End Child Poverty Act Amendment
• Sep 20, 2005 Campaign for Youth Urges, "Don't Leave Young People Adrift" Post-Katrina
• Sep 09, 2005 Should States have More Control Over Head Start?
• Apr 28, 2005 CLASP's Executive Director Speaks Out on Treatment of Poor in Budget
• Feb 23, 2005 President's Budget Slashes Adult Education Funding
• Feb 07, 2005 President's Budget Projects 300,000 Low-Income Children to Lose Child Care
• May 13, 2004 Community Colleges Helping Low-Income Parents Get Better Jobs
• Apr 26, 2004 New State-by-State Report Describes Efforts to Strengthen Marriage and Two-Parent Families
• Feb 18, 2004 Welfare Caseloads Increase in 26 States and DC Between June and September 2003
• Jan 28, 2004 Head Start Children Receive More Health and Dental Services Than Other Poor Children
• Sep 29, 2003 Every Door Closed for Ex-Offender Parents Trying to Rebuild Their Lives and Families
• Aug 28, 2003 Failure to Assist Limited English Speakers Likely to Hurt U.S. Productivity
• Jul 16, 2003 Boom Times a Bust for Less-Educated Young Men
• Dec 23, 2002 Microenterprise release
• Nov 15, 2002 Families on the Edge--Press Release
• Jun 20, 2002 Caseload data for first quarter of 2002 press release
• Jun 20, 2002 Forty States Likely to Cut Access to Postsecondary Training or Education Under House-Passed Welfare Bill press release
• May 28, 2002 Many Parents With Past Criminal Records Unfairly Excluded from Jobs, Housing, and Basic Services
• May 13, 2002 Research Shows That Education and Training Help Welfare Recipients Become Self-Sufficient
• Apr 30, 2002 New Surveys Suggest Low-Income Teen Parents
• Mar 20, 2002 Welfare Caseloads Up In Most States Since September