WHY WE VOTED FOR THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS -- (House of Representatives - February 13, 2009)
(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I think it is very important that we explain the actions that took place on the floor of the House today.
I'd like to, first of all, indicate that I'm glad to have heard that tribute to a very fine individual's sacrifice for this country. And I want you to know that when we think about economic stimulus, we're not leaving out people, we're putting them in.
I think the American people understand that when we lose 598,000 jobs, we need to do something. And so you can imagine my friends on the other side of the aisle, their criticism represents this little red spot. But there has to be much agreement, because the criticism is very narrow.
How can you criticize $4 billion for our veterans? How can you criticize encouraging businesses to invest through working to ensure businesses, increasing capital flows for business through a 5-year NOL; encouraging hiring of veterans and disconnected youth through the work opportunity tax grant. That's what's happening with the stimulus. Encouraging businesses to invest through a bonus depreciation and small business expensing, that's what's in this bill. We believe in small businesses and minority-owned businesses and women-owned businesses. And, yes, we believe that the majority of the American people are for this.
We're going home to take money to our constituency. That's why we voted for the economic stimulus plan.