DeGette Supports American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Statement

DeGETTE SUPPORTS AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT

U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Vice Chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce Committee, today joined a majority in the House of Representatives in support of critical legislation to create and save 3 to 4 million American jobs. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was approved by a vote of 244 to 188. Developed with the Obama Administration, this job creation package will rebuild America, making us more globally competitive and energy independent, and transforming our economy for long-term growth; give 95 percent of American workers an immediate tax cut; and invest quickly in the economy.

"The House has taken the first step in delivering a plan to implement President Obama's vision to get the economy back on track. Action on this economic recovery package will create American jobs now, lay a foundation for long-term growth through clean energy, innovation and education, with strict accountability measures to ensure that taxpayers dollar are spent wisely and effectively," said DeGette. "Passage of this economic package will mean real change by rebuilding America's roads and bridges and providing a tax cut to 95 percent of American workers. Now Congress must come together to act and finish the job of sending this job creation and economic recovery package to President Obama."

This jobs and economic recovery plan contains targeted efforts in:
· Transforming Our Economy With Clean, Efficient, American Energy and Innovation and Technology that will create more than 1 million jobs;
· Lowering Health Care Costs by funding aggressive adoption of health information technology, which will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, and Broadening Coverage by helping those who cannot afford health care in these tough times.;
· Modernizing Roads, Bridges, Transit and Waterways to create 1.5 million American jobs;
· Education for the 21st Century, including an increased Pell Grant for over 108,000 students here in Colorado and a higher education tax credit for an additional 36,000 students in our state so that they can stay in college despite these tough times;
· Tax Cuts of up to $1,000 to Make Work Pay for 1.7 million families here in Colorado and more than $20 billion for American businesses, large and small, to spur job creation;
· Helping Workers Hurt by the Economy, including 167,000 of Coloradoans that are out of work, those who have lost their health care, and seniors; and
· Saving the Jobs of Teachers and Police Officers.

The Recovery Plan has unprecedented accountability measures built in—providing strong oversight, an historic degree of public transparency, and including no earmarks.

"America is facing an economic crisis greater than any since the Great Depression, with a staggering 2.6 million American jobs lost in the last year and an unemployment rate in Colorado that has climbed to 6.1 percent," concluded DeGette.

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