Modernizing and greening California’s schools will create thousands of good jobs and improve the educational environment for students, according to California State Superintendent for Public Instruction Tom Torlakson and Carl Pope.

After the Senate failed to advance the American Jobs Act, BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster said that the Senate must move forward with this bill and demonstrate that Washington is indeed committed to solving the nation’s jobs crisis.

After the Labor Department reported that the U.S. gained more than 100,000 jobs in September, the BlueGreen Alliance released a statement from Executive Director David Foster saying that Congress must get to work on the American Jobs Act.

The American Jobs Act will create thousands of sorely-needed jobs and improve the educational environment for students by modernizing schools, according to representatives from BGA, Education Minnesota, LIUNA, and the Minnesota Conservation Federation.

David Foster says, “The House today passed the TRAIN Act, a bill that throws our country in reverse and does nothing to create good jobs. While millions of Americans are searching for work, House Republicans are curtailing our environmental protections.”

After the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing today, David Foster said, “Instead of holding ‘dog and pony’ shows, it’s time Congress to work on a jobs plan that will drive our economy forward.”

The Apollo Alliance Project of the BlueGreen Alliance presented the Right Stuff Awards to Denise Fairchild, Inaugural President of the Emerald Cities Collaborative and California-based Applied Materials.

Representatives from the BlueGreen Alliance, Education Minnesota, LIUNA, SEIU, Minnesota Conservation Federation, and SMWIA today said the American Jobs Act will create thousands of sorely-needed jobs and improve the educational environment for students.

The BlueGreen Alliance supports the American Jobs Act because it takes a critical first step forward in solving the nation’s jobs crisis with key priorities of our Jobs21! plan.”

Joined by Duluth Mayor Don Ness and Superior City Council President Dan Olson, the BlueGreen Alliance held a roundtable discussion on rebuilding the state’s transportation infrastructure to revitalize the Two Harbor’s economy.

The BlueGreen Alliance sent the following letter to President Obama September 6 outlining our Jobs21! Blueprint to Solve the Jobs Crisis.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 8, 2011) Following President Obama’s address to Congress, the BlueGreen Alliance released the following statement from Executive Director David Foster:

“President Obama tonight turned the nation’s attention to creating good, American jobs. His agenda will set the stage for revitalizing our economy and doing the work that America needs done. Now the Congress needs to respond by quickly breaking the logjam on the jobs crisis.

“We applaud the President for reiterating his support for many of the infrastructure initiatives included in the Jobs21! plan. Bold ideas like an infrastructure bank will strengthen America’s efforts to build a 21st century transportation infrastructure – which is essential for businesses to compete and thrive in a global economy where Europe and China are fast racing ahead.

“We are especially pleased with the President’s proposal to modernize America’s schools. A green school in every community will be a living symbol of how to put America back to work, improve the health of our children and teachers, and move our economy closer to a clean energy future. School modernization creates jobs for construction workers and demand for the energy efficiency products made in America’s factories.

“The jobs and industries of today and tomorrow must be created in America. Too many U.S. manufacturing jobs have moved offshore – including jobs making solar panels, wind turbines, energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs. Investments made today, and the jobs created by them, must stay in the United States. Because of this, we need continued dedication to forward-looking clean energy policies that will complement the American Jobs Act, as outlined in our Jobs21! plan.

“But the most important aspect of tonight’s speech was the President’s call to Congress to address immediately America’s pressing unemployment crisis. We are optimistic that the President’s strong call for action will move Congress to act quickly. The clearest path to economic prosperity is one that ensures America leads the industries of the 21st century. We look forward to working with the President and Congress to implement these smart policies and investments that will create jobs while making America a cleaner, more efficient and more competitive economy.

“Let’s put America to work doing the work that America needs done.”

###

The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the green economy. Launched in 2006, the strategic partnership now brings together ten major U.S. labor unions and four of America’s most influential environmental organizations and unites 14 million members and supporters in pursuit of good jobs, a clean environment and a green economy. Visit www.bluegreenalliance.org.