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American Recovery And Reinvestment Act Of 2009

Floor Speech

Date: Jan. 27, 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Infrastructure

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Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This legislation is necessary to rebuild our economy. Like other States, my State of New Hampshire has been hit hard by the Nation's economic crisis. Our unemployment rate has risen, foreclosures have increased, and the State is facing a very serious budget shortfall.

Over the past few weeks, I have traveled throughout my district talking to local officials, business owners, and other constituents. In each meeting I have attended, the main theme is the same: infrastructure and jobs, infrastructure and jobs.

In Dover, we talked about the need to replace some of the water and sewer piping of a system that has been in existence since the late 19th century.

In Portsmouth, we discovered the need to invest in the water treatment plant to guarantee safe drinking water into the future.

In Manchester, the largest city in New Hampshire, I heard from the board of aldermen about the crucial need for transportation funding.

In North Conway, I heard from town officials whose projects were not only necessary for public safety, but were forward-thinking, incorporating green energy technology.

The infrastructure investments in this bill are essential for the current and future health of our economy. We cannot fund every worthy project, but we will create and save jobs in New Hampshire and across the Nation.

I am very hopeful that these funds, like the investment that was made in Dover more than a century ago, will be used to make investments and infrastructure improvements that will leave real, meaningful and lasting results for our communities. After all, we are borrowing money, money that future generations of Americans will have to pay back. I hope that they will be able to see tangible benefits for their money.

So many Americans families are hurting. We must not only acknowledge their pain, we must help them recover. This package will help them recover. This package will help America recover. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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