[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 48 (Thursday, March 25, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         SMALL BUSINESS AND INFRASTRUCTURE JOBS TAX ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JOHN B. LARSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 24, 2010

  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 4849, the Small Business and Infrastructure Jobs Tax Act of 2010. 
The passage of this bill will create jobs and continue to revive our 
economy.
  In particular, I would like to highlight a portion of this bill that 
has proven itself as a job creator and with passage of this legislation 
will continue to put people back to work: the Temporary Assistance for 
Needy Families, or ``TANF,'' Emergency Contingency Fund. Since its 
enactment as part of the Recovery Act, the TANF Emergency Contingency 
Fund has created or maintained 160,000 jobs and by extending the fund 
for an additional year it will create thousands more.
  This is an effort that has broad bipartisan support. Kevin Hassett, a 
scholar for the American Enterprise Institute, has said that ``Given 
the state of the labor market, it is hard to imagine how any sensible 
person could oppose such a move,'' and both Democratic and Republican 
Governors have supported extending the program.
  A few weeks ago in Connecticut I met with leaders in the state 
government, the business community and the non-profit community to 
discuss their efforts to utilize the Emergency Contingency Fund. The 
extension that we are passing today will allow them to take full 
advantage of this program as they have committed to putting together a 
plan to use this funding to create jobs in the state.
  I want to thank Chairman Levin for his hard work on this bill as well 
as the Caucus Jobs Task Force--particularly Dr. Judy Chu, Jim 
McDermott, and Co-Chairs Alcee Hastings and Betty Sutton. Each of these 
members has made a tremendous commitment to putting Americans back to 
work and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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