Political Quotes

“In the Illinois that I come from there is no excuse to vote against this bill. Of critical importance to Chicago and Illinois is the extension of key safety net programs, including the TANF Emergency Fund. The TANF Emergency Fund has provided significant relief to Illinois, especially for creating jobs programs that benefit individuals and small businesses. To date, Illinois has been approved for $72.4 million in funds. With this Federal support, the State has launched its subsidized employment initiative called Put Illinois to Work, and is anticipating placing 22,000 low-income parents and young people in subsidized jobs. Passage of this bill will guarantee this much-needed assistance to low-income working families through the end of the year. State and local government will receive assistance for infrastructure through Build America Bonds that will aid in subsidizing the rebuilding of schools, sewers, hospitals, and transit projects. Since the passage of the Recovery Act, Illinois has received over $7 million for these job creation efforts. In addition, critical transportation projects authorized will continue to move forward with the guarantee to sustain $119 million in Federal construction projects. This bill is critical to Chicago, it's critical to Illinois, and it's critical to the Nation. I urge its passage.”