Congresswoman Gwen Moore Wins Victories for Working Families and Students in Recovery Bill

Press Release

Congresswoman Gwen Moore Wins Victories for Working Families and Students in Recovery Bill

Congresswoman Gwen Moore's contributions to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will impact millions of working families struggling to make it through these difficult economic times. The measure, which is expected to reach the president by President's Day, contains provisions which are expected to save or create between 3-4 million jobs, provide tax cuts to over 95% of Americans, and provide funding to help improve the nation's crumbling infrastructure.

"Today the Democratic-led Congress acted on behalf and in the interest of the millions of Americans who have lost their homes, jobs, and way of life," said Rep. Moore. "Though this bill is not a magic bullet for all of our economic woes, it is a step in the right direction towards the creation of jobs in America and helping our economy recover."

Rep. Moore fought to ensure the $787 billion economic recovery package contained provisions aimed at helping working families and students during this current economic strain and trouble. Rep. Moore's efforts led to the expansion of the Child Tax Credit, Pell Grants, tax incentives and the modernization and repair of higher education facilities.

"I am proud that I led an effort amongst my peers calling on leadership to maintain vital funding for Pell Grants and Higher Education Facility repairs. Pell Grants are one of the federal government's greatest tools to help low income students go to and stay in college," said Congresswoman Moore. "Moreover, this is a recovery package, and it's a package about jobs. Funding school modernization is a direct pipeline to job creation, because someone has to build those improvements."

Moore's efforts included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009:

* Expansion of payments and eligibility for struggling working families through the Child Tax Credit. Under current law, working families do not receive the Child Tax Credit on their first dollar of earnings, but only get a credit for every dollar of wages above $8500. Rep. Moore championed a provision which will allow more struggling working families with children to benefit from the Child Tax Credit and increase the income of the low-income working families of millions of children by moving the threshold from $8500 to $3000. Rep. Moore spearheaded a letter to House leadership pushing for increased payments and eligibility, which gained the support of 47 of her colleagues and helped lead to the restoration of this provision after it had been eliminated by the Senate.
* Increase of Pell Grant allotments maximum award by $500 to $5,350, to help ensure that low-income students have access to adequate Pell grant funding. Joined by Representative David Wu, Congresswoman Moore led an effort to help ensure that low-income students have access to adequate Pell grant funding. The letter Rep. Moore spearheaded to House leadership pushed for this provision after the Senate cut nearly $2 billion from the bill. Rep. Moore's letter gained the support of 33 other Representatives and the funding was restored in the final bill
* An additional $1.5 billion for HUD's Emergency Shelter Grant program, this will provide short-term relief to help families avoid eviction or obtain new housing. Rep. Moore, joined by 12 other members, led an effort to have this funding included in the original House bill.
* The final bill includes $8.8 billion to states for high priority needs, including facility repairs at institutions of higher education. Congresswoman Moore led an effort with Congressman Wu to include the House-passed funding for higher education facility modernization and repair after the Senate removed all funding.
* Individuals will be allowed to deduct state sales or excise taxes paid for the purchase of motorcycles which will help motorcycle manufacturers like Milwaukee's Harley-Davidson save jobs. Along with Sen. Kohl, Rep. Moore garnered the support of her colleagues, appealing to House leaders to ensure this provision was included in the final bill.
* Rep. Moore also fought alongside other member of the Congressional Black Caucus to restore funding in a number of critical areas that had been eliminated in the Senate bill earlier this week. Among other priorities, Moore and CBC members successfully retained funding for:
* Neighborhood Stabilization Fund- In recognizing foreclosures are a significant source of the current financial crisis, the CBC ensured that $2 billion for this program was included after funding had been eliminated from the Senate version of the recovery package.
* Workforce Investment- Maintaining the $500 million for Adult Training, $1.2 billion for youth/summer jobs, $1 billion for dislocated workers, and $120 million for senior employment. In addition, $500 million for Title I-D National Reserve Assistance for Dislocated Workers under WIA.

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