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NEW YORK (July 21, 2011) – National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial is scheduled to meet with President Obama this afternoon to discus the nation's unempoyment crisis and offer solutions.
"I'm concerned that a false link between raising the debt ceiling and reducing the deficit could result in unnecessary deep budget cuts to social programs," Morial said. "Deficit reduction is a priority, but reckless budget-cutting in response to a manufactured crisis could sabotoge the recovery. What the nation's 14 million unemployed need most right now is a job creation policy."
Specifically, Morial said, he will urge support of the Urban Jobs Act and the other measures included in the National Urban League's 12-Point Plan for Job Creation. The Urban Jobs Act will provide federal grant funding to non-profit organizations to offer job training, education and other support services for urban youth and young adults. The 12-Point Plan can be found here.
"There's no denying that the dangerously high rate of unemployment poses a threat to the economy," Morial said. "The African-American jobless rate is exactly twice the rate for whites - 16.2 percent versus 8.1 percent, while Latino unemployment remains high at 11.6 percent. Rates in some poor urban areas are even higher."
To arrange an interview with Mr. Morial, contact Teresa Candori at tcandori@nul.org or 646-319-0891.
