Kuhl Votes For Second Economic Stimulus Package

Press Release

U.S. Representative John R. "Randy" Kuhl, Jr. (R-Hammondsport) today voted in favor of the Second Economic Stimulus Package. The Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act of 2008 (H.R. 7110) will help our nation's economy grow, create jobs, extend unemployment benefits, help struggling families, and improve our nation's aging infrastructure.

"Families around this nation are struggling with rising energy prices, healthcare costs, and skyrocketing inflation. With more and more Americans losing their jobs because of the current economic hardships, now is the time to take action to ensure that we protect Main Street," said Rep. Kuhl. "This legislation will boost our economy, create American jobs, and provide the desperately needed relief to those who need it the most."

The Second Economic Stimulus Package contains provisions in three key areas: infrastructure, energy development, and addressing our nation's faltering economy.

To improve infrastructure, the package dedicated $12.8 billion for our nation's aging highways and bridges and $500 million to upgrade tracks and stations so Amtrak can meet the growing demand.

To combat our nation's current energy crisis, $500 million will be allocated for energy efficiency and renewable energy research and development to accelerate the growth of technologies that will diversify the nation's energy portfolio and contribute to a reliable, domestic energy supply.

Lastly, the stimulus package includes several provisions to help those struggling in the current economy. The bill provides an additional seven weeks of extended benefits for workers who have depleted their regular unemployment compensation. Workers in high unemployment states are eligible for an additional 13 weeks of benefits. The bill also gives $500 million to help Americans find and prepare for jobs and provides a temporary increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for Medicaid health costs. To address the rising cost of food, the bill increases food stamp benefits by 5 percent during FY 2008 and provides an additional $50 million for state administrative expenses to carry out the program.

This is the second stimulus package approved by the House in 2008. The first stimulus package was signed into law on February 13th. It addressed Americans' growing concern about the direction of our economy in the short term by providing relief to cash strapped Americans and encouraging businesses to invest in their future and their employees.

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