Black Caucus Lauds Passing Of Jobs Bill

WASHINGTON – Black California Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, released the following statement after the House of Representatives approved the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act:

“Today, we passed legislation that will provide critical aid to states which will maintain vital healthcare to our most vulnerable, save and create 319,000 jobs, including keeping 161,000 teachers in the classroom.

“Local governments across America are facing extreme shortfalls and without federal support to create these jobs and prevent massive public layoffs of our nation’s teachers and first responders, the results would be devastating.

 “Last week the Bureau of Labor Statistic reported that 48,000 municipal employees were laid-off. These figures illustrate the urgent need to provide relief to local governments in order to further propel our economic recovery. Without our intervention, the fiscal crisis gripping states and municipalities will result in debilitating service cuts and also hurt local economies because the healthcare, education, contracting opportunities and emergency response provided by cities and counties is the foundation of a strong local economy.

“Despite the importance of the legislation we passed today, it is disheartening that it was funded in part on the backs of the poor who receive food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. This type of ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’ will only lead to more pain and more suffering by the most vulnerable Americans. It is cruel and morally indefensible to force Americans who have the least, to suffer even more to preserve vital programs, as the wealthiest individuals in America continue to receive tax breaks and corporations pay out record executive compensation.

“We must commit to do more for our neighbors who are hardest hit by this recession. We must continue to work together to ensure that the companies who caused our financial crisis, send jobs offshore and use loopholes to escape paying taxes, will pay their fair share.”