Janice Schakowsky: “The House Republicans are doing nothing short of sabotaging our economy and jeopardizing millions of jobs by refusing to…”

“The House Republicans are doing nothing short of sabotaging our economy and jeopardizing millions of jobs by refusing to pass a long-term, well-funded transportation bill like the bipartisan Senate bill. There were 74 Senators, including 22 Republicans, who voted in favor of S. 1813, MAP 21. At one point, Speaker of the House John Boehner expressed his support for the bipartisan Senate bill. It is time for us to pass that legislation. The unemployment rate in the construction industry remains nearly triple the national average. Construction workers, engineers, architects, managers, contractors, and developers tell me that another short-term extension will not bring enough certainty to the industry. In Illinois, my State, the failure to pass a long-term transportation extension at the peak of the construction season has kept many unemployed and put thousands of other jobs at risk. Our States, our localities, our businessowners, and our workers deserve better. MAP 21 is the single largest jobs bill passed by either body in this 112th Congress. In my home State of Illinois alone, MAP 21 will save or create 70,000 jobs. Nationwide, the bill will save or create nearly 2 million jobs and spur 1 million additional jobs through the leveraging of transit funds. I am a strong supporter of MAP 21, and we should send it to the President's desk this week.…”