WASHINGTON—The U.S. House of Representatives today has taken bold, vital action to ensure that the economic recovery reaches everyday Americans and not just Wall Street executives.
Because too many Americans continue to struggle, the House today passed the Jobs for Main Street Act, which will enable states to avert draconian cuts in education, law enforcement, healthcare, social services and other critical areas. The education provisions in the bill will protect a generation of young Americans from the harmful effects of disastrous school budget cuts. The legislative lifeline to states will provide $23 billion to retain 250,000 preK-12 and higher education jobs for the next two years. The bill also includes much-needed funding to renovate public schools and universities, improve college work-study opportunities, and provide healthcare services for disadvantaged families. When teachers, other education employees and higher education faculty are in classrooms and not on the unemployment line, kids win.
We applaud Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Chairman David Obey, Chairman George Miller, the House leadership and the membership. By wisely putting jobs and education at the center of the economic recovery strategy, the House is laying the foundation for a better future for our nation and our nation’s children. We thank the House for passing this important bill, and we look forward to Senate action.