DENNIS A. CARDOZA: “Few regions in the Nation are suffering more from the recession than the San Joaquin Valley of California. The three…”

“Few regions in the Nation are suffering more from the recession than the San Joaquin Valley of California. The three biggest cities in my district--Merced, Stockton, and Modesto--have some of the highest foreclosure and unemployment rates in the country. As I've said before, my district has been economically ravaged at the level equal to the devastation that we have seen oftentimes in the aftermath of hurricanes. Twelve days ago, the Democratic Congress passed the HIRE Act to help create jobs, strengthen our economy, and to bring help to the communities like mine that need it. It provides tax incentives and credits for businesses to hire unemployed workers and to help small businesses invest and expand. This commonsense legislation will help countless unemployed Americans back onto company payrolls. It's high time for the Senate to finally pass this bill and send it to President Obama. Nowhere is this bill more necessary than in the San Joaquin Valley. We needed help last week, and we needed it a year ago. Economic relief for my constituents remain long overdue. It's time to stop playing political games and start providing it.”