David Obey: “I rise in support of this economic recovery package--a bold, urgent plan to create American jobs and to move to…”

“I rise in support of this economic recovery package--a bold, urgent plan to create American jobs and to move to long-term economic growth. Every day reminds us of why this recovery package is so critical and urgent, and it reminds me of why we serve in this institution. Last month, the economy lost 600,000 jobs. States are facing major midyear budget shortfalls. They have already begun to furlough employees. This week, we worked with President Obama and with the Senate to create 3.5 million jobs to get our economy moving--putting resources in the hands of people who need relief and who will spend it quickly, giving 95 percent of working Americans an immediate tax cut, expanding the eligibility of the child tax credit, benefiting over 16 million children, $20 billion to increase the food stamp benefit, which will reach 14 million families immediately, putting Americans back to work with $100 billion for building roads, bridges, mass transit, energy-efficient buildings, and clean water projects. No investments are more critical than those that we make on our human capital. We got this right. Let's get it right today and support this bill.”