CHESILHURST, NJ--Congressman Rob Andrews (D-Haddon Heights) today highlighted initiatives he has cultivated designed to help bridge the "Digital Divide" that exists among low-income and minority populations throughout the country and here at home in South Jersey.  In honor of the historic undertakings by Martin Luther King to promote the advancement and unity of all people, races and cultures throughout the United States, Rep. Andrews has been working in Congress to promote technological equality for all South Jerseyans.

Rep. Andrews visited the Shirley B. Foster School in Chesilhurst, N.J. to highlight his support, along with Rep. Curt Weldon who together have been key proponents in Congress of the HUBS Program (Hospitals, Universities, Business and Schools), an initiative designed to create partnerships with business, government, non-profits and school districts to establish Internet based resources for children in less fortunate school districts so they will have access to a wealth of virtual knowledge.  Andrews has supported federal funding for the HUBS program.  School districts would then compete for this funding in the form of HUBS Grants to underwrite these programs.  Through this funding students attending the Shirley B. Foster school in Chesilhurst would be able to share experiences, ideas, and most of all knowledge with successful leaders of business, government, and most other walks of life via the Internet and would be afforded opportunities to which they otherwise would have not been provided.

"As we blaze ahead into the high-tech world of this new millennium, it is necessary to ensure that we do not leave anyone behind as a result of their economic, cultural or racial background," said Rep. Andrews.  " Through valuable programs such as HUBS, the Federal, State and Local governments, working in conjunction with private business can assist technologically challenged school districts to ensure that their students have the same advantages as other young people despite economic, cultural and social barriers."

Currently, it is estimated that 41.5% of households in United States have Internet access but of that number only 23.5% of minority households have access and only 21% for households with an annual income between $15,000 and $25,000.  The HUBS program was set up to ensure that students from every culture and economic background have access to the same resources as their more affluent or privileged counterparts.  In addition to providing an introduction to the digital age for these students and their families, the HUBS program also provides students the opportunity to interact with influential men and women that they normally would not encounter.

As part of an entire day devoted to bridging the digital divide, Rep. Andrews visited Goodwill Industries in Maple Shade to highlight the second phase of this plan--Job Training.  South Jerseyans look to improve their standard of living and access employment in general are finding that their skills are deficient as a result of the lack of proper training.  Now more than ever, workers are looking to upgrade existing skills or learn entirely new trades to gain marketable skills in the new economy.  For his part, Rep. Andrews has been a leader in Congress supporting initiatives to free up federal job training dollars and welfare to work funding to help men and women in South Jersey and throughout the country train for the skills of the new economy.   Goodwill Industries has received over $800,000 in federal funding from these programs for 2000, which enabled 91 students to be trained for careers in the high tech sector.

Rep. Andrews also spent part of his day at Data Systems Analysts (DSA) in Pennsauken, N.J. to highlight the final part of this process which relies on dedicated, responsible and resourceful employers in the new economy that actively look to hire smart and talented men and women on the basis of how much they know and what they can do as opposed to what they look like and where they are from.  While at DSA, Rep. Andrews commended the firms CEO, Fran Pierce for her progressive hiring initiatives and offered the firm as a model company helping to bridge the digital divide.