Kaufman Statement of Passage of Economic Recovery Package

Statement

Senator Ted Kaufman (D-DE) released the following statement today after the Senate passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, 61-37.

"This Senate agreement is a crucial first step if we are to jumpstart our economy and avoid a deeper recession. It will begin the critical task of job creation - job loss is a financial and personal disaster that far too many of our workers, and their families, are experiencing. Major job creation is essential if we are to begin the process of reversing the slide in our economy.

This recovery package contains money in both spending and tax cuts, and not one earmark. I am disappointed, however, the bill does not include the level of education funding necessary to prevent teacher layoffs while creating hundreds of jobs in Delaware by putting people to work on school construction and modernization. I urge the House and Senate negotiators to add back that funding.

The Senate agreement focuses on restoring and keeping jobs. It will fill a huge hole in our economy, and will begin the task of slowing and reversing our economic troubles. I hope the differences between the House and Senate will be resolved this week so we can get a final bill to President Obama soon."

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