Max Baucus: “In each of the last 3 months, more than half a million mothers and fathers came home to tell their families that they…”

“In each of the last 3 months, more than half a million mothers and fathers came home to tell their families that they had lost their jobs. In each of the last 3 months, more than half a million breadwinners came to terms with the news that they were no longer gainfully employed. In each of the last 3 months, more than half a million Americans suddenly had to make do with much less. Bad as that news is, the year ahead looks no better. Job losses have accelerated to a rate not seen in nearly three decades. And economists warn that other shoes are bound to drop. These are times that frighten even seasoned managers. These are circumstances that concern even bullish economists. The history of the 1920s and 1930s teaches us that we must act. The history of the Great Depression teaches us the costs of delay. We must act to replace some of the trillions of dollars in demand that the private sector lacks. We must act to support those who, through no fault of their own, have been thrown onto the rolls of the unemployed. We must act to prevent the economy from spiraling deeper into recession. The road before us is clear. We must pass the economic recovery and reinvestment legislation before us today. We must speedily resolve our differences with the House of Representatives. And we must get this bill to the President for signature without delay. The bill before us would create or save 3 to 4 million jobs.”