Put 1 million Americans back to work with community public service jobs

During the 2020 pandemic-driven economic disaster, the next rounds of stimulus spending from Washington should fund one million community service jobs. Direct job creation programs must be added to the already authorized — and essential — business assistance and unemployment insurance enhancements. Creating one million, time-limited, community service employment jobs could be capped at an annual compensation of $40,000. The return on investment is worth the $40 billion price tag. Not only will it offer meaningful work for idle Americans who will otherwise face long odds for returning to the private sector, but it will also provide vital services in the nation’s towns and cities.

Opinion by Carl Van Horn, The Hill, April 27, 2020