Boxer Lauds Senate Vote to Save Jobs of Teachers, Police and Firefighters

Press Release

U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today praised the Senate's 61-38 vote to move ahead on legislation that will extend emergency funding to help save the jobs of hundreds of thousands of teachers and first responders across the nation.

The measure will help save more than 140,000 teacher jobs nationwide -- including 13,500 in California -- and will provide critical support for Medicaid programs in California and other states. The bill is fully paid for through spending cuts and by closing tax loopholes for companies that ship jobs overseas.

Senator Boxer said, "Without adding a penny to the deficit, this legislation will save more than 13,000 teacher jobs in California as well as public safety jobs of our police officers and firefighters."

The teacher jobs provision was based on legislation that Senator Boxer sponsored with Senator Tom Harkin, D-IA. Their bill -- the Keep Our Educators Working Act -- was aimed at keeping teachers in the classroom to protect the education of our children.

The legislation is expected to provide $1.8 billion for California's Medicaid program, which serves more than seven million Californians. The funding will help protect vital services, such as public safety programs, while the state seeks to close a $19 billion budget deficit.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates the measure will reduce the federal deficit by $1.4 billion over the next decade.

The bill is expected to pass the Senate later this week. The bill must still go to the House for final approval.

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