Max Baucus: “Martin Luther King, Jr., once said: Life's most urgent question is: What are you doing for others? Pretty much all of us…”

“Martin Luther King, Jr., once said: Life's most urgent question is: What are you doing for others? Pretty much all of us came here to the Senate to work on that urgent question. Pretty much all of us came here to help other Americans. On a number of levels, the legislation before us today is urgent legislation. The legislation before us today is urgent because it would prevent millions of Americans from falling through the safety net. The legislation before us is urgent because it would extend vital safety net programs that expired yesterday. The legislation before us is urgent because it would put cash in the hands of Americans who could spend it quickly, boosting economic demand. The legislation before us today is urgent because it would extend critical programs and tax incentives that create jobs. The legislation before us today is urgent because it is important that we here can do this for other Americans. Since the recession began, more than 7 million Americans have lost their jobs. The unemployment rate remains nearly 10 percent. For Americans without a job, this great recession is a great depression. If you do not have a job, it is a depression. Last week, with a solid bipartisan vote, we passed legislation to help create jobs. We can and should do more, and by extending this package of vital provisions we can do just that. The provisions in this bill are important to American families.”