02.13.09 | Rep. Scott Supports Final Passage of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act to Create and Save Millions of Jobs
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the conference report on H.R. 1, the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act. The conference report was agreed to by a vote of 246 to 183 (Roll Call No. 70). The Senate is expected to vote on the conference report later today before it goes on to President Obama for his signature.
The conference report on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will create and save 3.5 million jobs; help state and local governments with their budget shortfalls to prevent deep cuts in basic services such as healthcare, education, and law enforcement; cut taxes for hard working families; and invest in the long-term health of our economy. In addition, the legislation provides for unprecedented transparency and accountability so that Americans will know that their tax dollars are being invested responsibly and efficiently. Americans will be able to track every penny spent under the authority of the legislation on the internet at www.recovery.gov.
Voting in favor of the legislation, Representative Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA-03) issued the following statement:
"A staggering 3.6 million Americans have lost their jobs since this recession began," said Rep. Scott. "The sobering reality of our current situation is the culmination of the failed economic policies that this nation had to endure for eight years under the Bush Administration. No bill is perfect, but the legislation passed by the House today will help jumpstart our economy by providing tax relief for hardworking American families, helping millions of students pursue a post-secondary education, modernizing our crumbling infrastructure, helping states and localities meet their budget shortfalls, and expanding and improving access to healthcare. The economy shrank by 4% in the last quarter of 2008. Urgent and targeted action is needed to stabilize our economy and the legislation passed today will do just that. "
Representative Scott will host two events in the Third Congressional District on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on Tuesday, February 17, 2009. At 10:00 a.m., Representative Scott will brief local government officials on the provisions of the legislation that will impact the Commonwealth of Virginia and its localities. The briefing will be held at the Downing Gross Cultural Center located at 2410 Wickham Ave in Newport News.
At 6:30 p.m., Representative Scott will host a town hall meeting with a panel of experts to discuss the green jobs and clean energy provisions of the legislation. The town hall will be held at the Adult Career Development Center located at 119 West Leigh Street in Richmond.
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