DeGette Supports American Recovery And Reinvestment Act

WASHINGTON  – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Vice Chair of theCommittee on Energy and Commerce Committee, today joined a majority inthe House of Representatives in support of critical legislation tocreate and save 3 to 4 million American jobs.  The American Recoveryand Reinvestment Act was approved by a vote of 244 to 188.  Developedwith the Obama Administration, this job creation package will rebuildAmerica, making us more globally competitive and energy independent,and transforming our economy for long-term growth; give 95 percent ofAmerican workers an immediate tax cut; and invest quickly in theeconomy.

"The House has taken the first step in delivering aplan to implement President Obama's vision to get the economy back ontrack.  Action on this economic recovery package will create Americanjobs now, lay a foundation for long-term growth through clean energy,innovation and education, with strict accountability measures to ensurethat taxpayers dollar are spent wisely and effectively," saidDeGette. "Passage of this economic package will mean real change byrebuilding America's roads and bridges and providing a tax cut to 95percent of American workers.  Now Congress must come together to actand finish the job of sending this job creation and economic recoverypackage to President Obama."

This jobs and economic recovery plan contains targeted efforts in:

·    Transforming Our Economy With Clean, Efficient, American Energyand Innovation and Technology that will create more than 1 million jobs;

·    Lowering Health Care Costs by funding aggressiveadoption of health information technology, which will create hundredsof thousands of jobs, and Broadening Coverage by helping those whocannot afford health care in these tough times.;

·    Modernizing Roads, Bridges, Transit and Waterways to create 1.5 million American jobs;

·    Education for the 21st Century, including an increased Pell Grantfor over 108,000 students here in Colorado and a higher education taxcredit for an additional 36,000 students in our state so that they canstay in college despite these tough times;

·    Tax Cuts of up to$1,000 to Make Work Pay for 1.7 million families here in Colorado andmore than $20 billion for American businesses, large and small, to spurjob creation;

·    Helping Workers Hurt by the Economy, including167,000 of Coloradoans that are out of work, those who have lost theirhealth care, and seniors; and

·    Saving the Jobs of Teachers and Police Officers.

The Recovery Plan has unprecedented accountability measures builtin—providing strong oversight, an historic degree of publictransparency, and including no earmarks.

"America is facing aneconomic crisis greater than any since the Great Depression, with astaggering 2.6 million American jobs lost in the last year and anunemployment rate in Colorado that has climbed to 6.1 percent,"concluded DeGette.