[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 26 (Monday, February 9, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H1048]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        IN SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT

  (Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. This body passed a very good recovery package. It's 
important to note, as we prepare to go to conference, that most 
economists have warned that it would be a far greater risk to pass one 
that is too small and that, therefore, it would be better to take that 
risk on the side of making the package a bigger one.
  The increase in food stamps and unemployment benefits, the tax 
credits, all begin to put money in the hands where it's needed. Robust 
State stabilization funds and infrastructure projects, green jobs, 
small business and training provisions create and replace the millions 
of jobs lost over the past 8 years. That's the recovery part.
  These and the education, health care, broadband and renewable energy 
provisions are the critical reinvestments and the important change that 
Americans voted for and want the President and Congress to bring about.
  We should keep much that the Senate put in and keep our provisions, 
even if it means a bill that may cost $900 billion, because it would 
have the dramatic impact our communities need today and build the 
strong foundation our Nation needs for the future.
  The American people want and need change. Let's begin it with a 
robust American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

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