“My top priority in Congress is to help Hoosiers get back to work. That’s why I’ve hosted events in Indiana such as job fairs and a job seeker workshop. It’s also why I’ve supported job-creating legislation in Congress, such as my AMERICA Works Act, which would better connect skilled workers with the employers who need them. I’ll continue to work hard until every Hoosier who wants a job has a job.”

- Congressman Joe Donnelly

Events in North Central Indiana

Job Fairs

In August of 2011, Congressman Donnelly hosted his Second Annual Job Fair at IU South Bend. This event was designed to provide Hoosiers with an opportunity to connect with over 65 employers and representatives from local educational institutions and retraining programs. You can find a list of those employers and representatives here. More than 600 people from north central Indiana attended.

Attendees speak with employers at Congressman Donnelly's Second Annual Job Fair at IU South Bend in August of 2011.

Job Seeker Workshop

In July 2011, Congressman Joe Donnelly hosted a Job Seeker Workshop at IUSB Elkhart designed to provide Hoosiers looking for work with an opportunity to learn skills to help them get the job they want. Video and presentation slides from the general session and breakout sessions of Congressman Donnelly's Job Seeker Workshop are available below.

 Attendees listen to a presentation on resume improvement tips at Congressman Donnelly's Job Seeker Workshop at IUSB-Elkhart in July of 2011.

General Session:

• Resume improvement tips and Interview do's and don'ts
  
  • Click here to watch a video of the general session presentation on resumes and interviews.
  • Click here to download the general session presentation slides on resumes and interviews.

Break Out Sessions:

• “Veterans: Re-entering the Job Force After Serving your Country”
  • View the video and presentation slides for this breakout session.
• Finding a Job in Indiana’s Dynamic Manufacturing Industry
  • View the video and presentation slides for this breakout session.
• Marketing Yourself for a Professional Career
  • View the video and presentation slides for this breakout session.
• Technology and Job Hunting: Tips for Navigating Your Job Search on the Internet
  • View the video and presentation slides for this breakout session.

Legislation and Work in Congress:

Congressman Donnelly’s AMERICA Works Act

In March of 2011, Congressman Donnelly introduced his American Manufacturing Efficiency and Retraining Investment Collaboration Achievement (AMERICA) Works Act which would better connected skilled workers with employers.

During his summit on the future of manufacturing in Indiana in March, Donnelly heard from many experts in the sector about the importance of a skilled workforce.  To respond to this need, Donnelly introduced The AMERICA Works Act that would prioritize existing federal workforce training funds for education and training programs that lead to industry-recognized, nationally portable credentials.

Congressman Donnelly believes we have one of the best workforces in the country here in Indiana, but there needs to be a more streamlined way of categorizing and credentialing specific skills so that we can more efficiently connect skilled job seekers with the employers who need them.

To learn more about Congressman Donnelly’s AMERICA Works Act, please click here.

Congressman Donnelly Calls for Supercommittee to Address Job Creation

Congressman Joe Donnelly wrote a letter on September 21, 2011 to members of the supercommittee asking them to address our country’s complicated job crisis without adding to the deficit.

He said that too many families in Indiana and across the country are struggling to put food on the table and pay their bills each month because mom, dad, or both can’t find work.  There is no more pressing issue than the economic future of our country, and he decided the best way to get results was to encourage this bipartisan group of lawmakers to generate a plan that would get Americans back to work and protect the jobs we already have.

Donnelly believes that the best opportunity for getting anything done in Congress this calendar year is through the supercommittee’s work.  Their recommendations are guaranteed to receive an up-or-down vote in both chambers—something that is increasingly difficult to achieve in this hyper-partisan environment.

In the letter, Donnelly outlined his suggestions for job creation.  While not a comprehensive list of initiatives he supports, Donnelly offered the following:

• establishing tax incentives for businesses that hire and retain workers,
• better connecting skilled workers with the employers who need them through his AMERICA Works Act,
• leveling the playing field for American manufacturers by cracking down on Chinese currency manipulation with The Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act,
• going all-in on American energy production to keep our energy dollars here at home, and
• investing in infrastructure to support short- and long-term economic growth.

Donnelly also asserted that as the supercommittee simultaneously works on deficit reduction, every initiative to create jobs must be paid for.  Read the full letter here.