Statement on House Economic Stimulus Package
Press Release
U.S. Representative Tom Allen issued the following statement on his support for H.R. 7110, The Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act, economic stimulus legislation the House will vote on later today:
"More than 600,000 Americans have lost their jobs since the beginning of this year, including 84,000 last month when the nation's unemployment level reached 6.1 percent, the highest level in five years. The measures the House will vote on today will provide our ailing economy a much-needed boost. It provides $12.8 billion to repair crumbling roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure, including more than $60 million for Maine. It contains $3 billion for school repairs, $3.6 billion for buses and other transit improvements and $12.5 billion to improve our nation's sewer and clean water infrastructure and to repair and expand flood protection, navigation and hydropower. All of these investments will address our nation's pressing infrastructure needs and create thousands of good jobs for American workers.
"The stimulus bill also provides significant funding to support the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies, along with modernizing the nation's energy infrastructure. It also provides an additional seven weeks of unemployment benefits for those still looking for work but unable to find a job, and $15 million in additional food stamp assistance to 179,000 people in Maine. Maine will receive an additional $109 million to pay for Medicaid and reduce the burden on state taxpayers. Finally, the bill funds training programs to help Americans acquire the skills needed to find good paying jobs.
"To restore growth, we need to do even more to provide relief to middle class families, the people whose hard work drives our economy. With fuel costs soaring, I will continue to fight for passage of The Home Heating Fuels Cost Relief Act, legislation I introduced to provide a $2,000 refundable tax credit families can use to offset their fuel costs this winter. We cannot have a strong America without a strong middle class."
Source