[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 4, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H927]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       ECONOMIC RECOVERY PACKAGE

  (Mr. SIRES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, last week American companies announced that 
they will be laying off more than 102,000 employees in the coming 
weeks.
  The economic situation is clearly getting worse, and Congressional 
Democrats are taking steps to get people back to work and to save jobs 
that without action will be lost in the next few months.
  Last week, the House passed legislation that will save and create 3 
to 4 million jobs. We will create nearly half a million jobs by 
investing in clean energy. Our economic package also puts nearly 
400,000 people to work repairing crumbling roads, bridges and schools.
  In another effort to jump start our economy, it also gives 95 percent 
of Americans an immediate tax cut.
  Madam Speaker, economists told us that we needed to act boldly and 
swiftly to address our Nation's troubled economy. This week, the Senate 
must pass the economic recovery package so that we can begin the long 
process of turning this economy around. Failure to act, as some on the 
other side of the aisle seem to be more happy to do, is simply not an 
option.

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