New York Times - A New Civilian Conservation Corps

By Marcy Kaptur

One proven way to create jobs in America ("A Jobs Agenda,
Anyone?," editorial, Aug. 15) is to reprise the Civilian Conservation
Corps, which was one of the most effective and most popular
programs of the New Deal.

I have introduced legislation (H.R. 494) that would create a
modern-day C.C.C. to employ currently idled Americans, with
returning unemployed veterans leading civilian teams of unemployed
workers in rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, repairing our
damaged environment through tree planting and other conservation
projects, and revitalizing local communities.

Every dollar of investment in bricks, mortar, infrastructure and environment returns $1.59
to the economy. This is six times more "bang for the buck" than tax credits and other
arcane policy options whose economic impact drain through the economy and yield only
30 cents for every dollar expended.

Moreover, the 21st-century C.C.C. could be quickly mobilized to address the job crisis. Its
predecessor was up and running and employing almost 300,000 Americans within three
months.

Rather than allowing the economy to stagnate and leaving our public assets to deteriorate,
we can build our way out of this economic downturn. We simply need to remember one of
the important lessons of the "greatest generation": useful work transforms lives and builds
our nation forward.

MARCY KAPTUR
Member of Congress, 9th Dist., Ohio
Toledo, Ohio, Aug. 17, 2011

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