Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act of 2008

Floor Speech

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Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this economic recovery package as a $63 billion shot in the arm for an economy that clearly needs it. As we debate the President's $700 billion bailout plan for Wall Street, we must never forget the struggle on Main Street caused by eight years of failed economic policies.

This legislation will grow our economy and create jobs by investing $34 billion in needed infrastructure improvements for our roads, bridges, water resources, schools, public transit, airports and housing. It provides $1.6 billion to accelerate advanced battery, renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. And it offers a helping hand to our neighbors in need by extending unemployment benefits for an additional seven weeks, increasing food stamp support by $2.6 billion, bolstering our job training efforts by $500 million, and temporarily enhancing the federal match to state Medicaid programs in order to protect health care for our most vulnerable citizens.

Mr. Speaker, with the President warning of "financial panic'' and 605,000 American jobs already lost this year, this proactive effort to support our struggling economy is a modest, but important step. I urge my colleagues' support.

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