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Schumer Looks To Extend Youth Summer Jobs Bill

By Jasmyn Belcher

Oswego, NY – According to U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, new legislation could create thousands of temporary jobs for young people in New York State.

He said he's looking to extend a youth summer jobs bill, which has the capacity to create 500,000 temporary jobs for teens and young adults across the U.S.

Schumer said that nearly one in three 20-to-24-year-olds are unemployed. He said through the summer jobs program, 1,700 young Central New Yorkers got jobs last year.

"This is not sweeping the streets. They gain experience in bank-type jobs, and in retail-type jobs and in all kinds of sales-type jobs. So these jobs provide kids good opportunity so when they get out of college they will get good jobs," said Schumer.

Schumer said research shows that every dollar a youth earns puts $3.00 into the local economy.

According to Schumer, providing employment opportunities combined with hands-on training, is critical to helping support the children of middle-class families still suffering from the recent recession.