Judy Chu: “I want to speak to the importance of passing the Investing in American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, the…”

“I want to speak to the importance of passing the Investing in American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, the importance of passing this bill now. This bill creates jobs, rebuilds infrastructure, and promotes investments that gets our economy going again. And I want to take a moment to talk about one specific aspect of this bill, the extension of the Emergency Fund for Job Creation and Assistance. In Los Angeles County, the area I represent, one out of every eight residents is unemployed. In one area of my district, East L.A., the unemployment rate is 16.75 percent. This is unacceptable. A while back, L.A. County instituted an innovative program to get people back to work. It uses TANF funds from the stimulus to place unemployed workers in positions for up to a year. And it created over 11,000 jobs in L.A. County and almost 250,000 across the country. But this proven job creation program expires in September. The clock is ticking. If we don't act, those 250,000 tales of success become horror stories. Today's bill will keep those Americans working. I urge all of my colleagues to support the Investing in American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act.”