[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 5, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H3132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      SUPPORTING A LOCAL JOBS BILL

  (Mr. ELLISON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, right now, our unemployment rate in the 
United States hovers around 10 percent. It's a little bit lower than 
that, but when you think about all of the people who are unemployed in 
some sectors, it is twice that. In some parts of our country, it is 
much more than that.
  The fact is that we need a jobs bill, a real jobs bill that will put 
Americans to work. I propose that we support a local jobs bill that 
will help provide not only jobs for working Americans but will also 
provide vitally needed services to our cities. All over America, we 
have districts that are looking at laying off teachers and that are 
looking at laying off firefighters, police officers, and public works 
officials. We need these vital services to keep our cities moving 
properly.
  Local officials around this country know that the Federal Government 
should be responding to these difficult shortfalls and cuts that are 
resulting in service cuts all over this Nation. We have work that needs 
to be done, and we have people who are ready to do it. It is time for 
Congress to step forward with a real local jobs bill.

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