Washington, U.S.A. – Generation Opportunity President Paul T. Conway, former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Department of Labor, has issued the following statement:

“Today, in our prayers and in our hearts, we remember the thousands of innocent Americans and first responders who lost their lives during the cowardly terror attacks of September 11, 2001. We mourn their loss and pledge to their families and loved ones to always honor their memory and to never forget their bravery and sacrifice. We offer our full respect for the courage and selflessness demonstrated by those who answered this nation’s call to respond through the War on Terror, including those in the United States Armed Forces, committed federal civil servants, countless state and local police, and emergency responders whose ongoing vigilance continues to keep us safe here at home.

We also pay tribute to America’s next greatest generation, whose love of our country and unwavering commitment to their fellow citizens was forged by the events of that day. Through their patriotism, military service, and example of helping those in need here and overseas, young Americans have sent a powerful message to the world that our nation’s ideals are intact, that our exceptionalism remains, and that the memory of those who fell of September 11 will never fade.”

Mr. Conway served as the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management on September 11, 2001, and was involved in the legislative efforts to establish the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He later served as an agency Chief of Staff at DHS and was awarded the Secretary’s Silver Medal, the second highest DHS civilian award, for his leadership and distinguished service over a significant time to the Department.

Image Courtesy of   Glynnis Jones / Shutterstock.com

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Generation Opportunity President Paul T. Conway, former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Department of Labor under Secretary Elaine L. Chao, responds to the January 2012 jobs numbers report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

“Young Americans, including young veterans who have honorably served their nation, are being told by President Obama and his administration to settle for a new economic status quo where the lack of jobs, high unemployment, a record high number of people dropping out of the labor force, and limited economic opportunity are considered normal.

Instead of being allowed to pursue their dreams and careers through meaningful work, regular paychecks, and new skills gained on the job, the ongoing poor economy is forcing young adults to delay their plans, delay their lives, and scramble to simply make ends meet.

“Despite thirty-six consecutive monthly jobs reports with unemployment over eight percent and a new CBO forecast of higher unemployment in the year to come, the message from the Obama administration to young Americans is to expect more of the same — higher taxes, more regulations, and more federal interference targeted at private sector job creators.

Young adults pay dearly for this administration’s disregard and diminishment of private employers. Their level of aloofness and lack of empathy for the daily concerns of young Americans is as astounding as it is unacceptable.”

January’s 8.3 percent overall jobless rate fails to reflect the significant and ongoing challenges faced by young Americans in the continually poor economy. Joblessness among Millennials ages 18-29 is already at historic levels since the end of World War II, and hidden behind January’s numbers is the fact that many Americans have either accepted short-term, seasonal work or simply given up looking for work and are, therefore, not factored into the unemployment rate.

Even worse, the long-term U.S. job growth picture remains grim based on an official report released this week by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). CBO’s January 31, 2012 report concluded “a large portion of the economic and human costs of the recession and slow recovery remains ahead.”

CBO is also forecasting that the U.S. unemployment rate could reach 8.9 percent by the end of 2012, and could potentially increase to 9.2 percent in the year 2013. Finally, the report forecasts that the unemployment rate could remain as high as seven percent through the end of 2015, and that economic activity may remain “below the economy’s potential until 2018.”

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The Generation Opportunity grassroots team met thousands of women leaders at the 2011 Massachusetts Conference for Women in Boston. The more than 6,500 women in attendance – including young adult “Millennial” women ages 18-29 – represented small business owners, entrepreneurs, corporate and government professionals, non-profit and community leaders, and student organizers.

“This event allowed us to meet with thousands of women leaders and entrepreneurs, especially Millennials, who have experienced first-hand the true cost of the bad policies pushed by elected leaders in Washington, D.C. and the dire lack of economic opportunity that is the result of the poor economy.

These leaders understand that job creation and opportunity are created through individual initiative, active professional networks, and investments, and that government intervention and taxes are a barrier to success and long-term independence,” said Paul T. Conway, President of Generation Opportunity and the former Chief of Staff of the United States Department of Labor under Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

“Elected officials in both parties should listen to the concerns of women leaders, in particular young women. Their experiences reveal the negative impacts of current policies coming out of Washington which are impacting their plans for the future and causing them to put off things like buying a home, paying off student loans, starting a business, or saving for retirement.”

Attendees represented states throughout greater New England as well as dozens of other states across the country including Arizona, North Carolina, Indiana, Virginia, and Colorado. The event, which provides “connection, motivation, networking, inspiration and skill building for thousands of women each year,” was held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center with the theme “Live Fearlessly!”

The conference focused on personal finance, professional and business skills, and entrepreneurship. In addition to connecting with young adult women leaders at the 2011 Massachusetts Conference for Women this month, the Generation Opportunity team trained Massachusetts community college leaders from North Shore Community College and Regis College at the American Student Government Association (ASGA) Conference earlier this year.

Generation Opportunity, which has more than 1.9 million fans on Facebook, continues aggressive grassroots efforts around the country, engaging tens of thousands of young adults in person as a compliment to its aggressive social media strategy. Generation Opportunity commissioned a poll with the polling company, WomanTrend. Highlights of the results for young adult women, ages 18-29, appear below:

Delayed Professional Plans and Personal Dreams – The Human Cost of the Poor Economy:

• 79% of young adult women (18-29) either have or will delay a major life change or purchase due to current economic factors. Almost half are putting plans to purchase a home “on pause”, and about one‐in-four 18-29 year old women (27%) are putting their plans to start a family “on pause” due to the current economic conditions.

• 46% delay buying a home; 30% delay saving for retirement; 30% delay paying off student loans or other debt; 26% delay going back to school/getting more education or training; 21% delay changing jobs/cities; 27% delay starting a family; 20% delay getting married

Young Adult Women on Government Spending and the Economy:

• 71% of young adult women (18-29) would favor a decrease in federal spending from its current level over raising taxes paid by individuals in order to balance the federal budget. Only 23% favor increasing taxes paid by individuals as a means of balancing the federal budget. Young adult women are 3 times more inclined to cut federal spending than increase taxes on individuals. 

• 54% of young adult women agree the economy grows best when individuals are allowed to create businesses without government interference; 33% disagree.

Young Adult Women 18-29 Look Ahead to 2012:

• 60% of young adult women (18-29) believe the wrong leadership is in Washington, while 38% believe Washington has the right leadership. Within those totals (60% wrong leadership versus 38% right leadership), there is a 22‐point-intensity gap between women who strongly agree Washington has the wrong leadership (29%) compared with those who strongly agree (7%) Washington has the right leadership.

• 67% of young adult women (18‐29) do not believe that today’s political leaders reflect their interests.

• 64% of young adult women (18‐29) will chiefly consider a candidate’s position on issues and voting record when voting for President in 2012, another 28% of young adult women will weigh substantive issues and personal characteristics equally in making their vote choice, while just 3% prefer to base their support on “likeability” or the candidate’s personal traits.

• 55% of young adult women (18‐29) agree that in 2012, they will learn more about the policy positions of Presidential candidates than they did in 2008, 32% disagree.

American National Security and Future Global Leadership:

• 65% of young adult women (18-29) list energy dependency as the top national security issue followed by the national debt (62%) and indebtedness to foreign powers (48%). Terrorism was rated the fourth top national security issue (35%).

• 57% of young adult women (18-29) are not confident that America will be the global leader in 10 years; 39% are confident. Among those who are not confident, there is a substantial intensity gap (19‐points) between young adult women who are “not at all confident” (25%) America will be the global leader in ten years compared with those who are “very confident” (6%) it will be.

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