Wednesday, October 29, 2008 Ways and Means Hearing Adds to Call for “Main Street” Economic Recovery Package
Washington, DC – Witnesses appearing before the House Committee on Ways and Means today added to the growing chorus of voices calling for an economic recovery package to provide assistance to families and State and local governments struggling in the current crisis. Today’s hearing was part of a series of actions taken by Congress to further examine the economic pain facing families and move forward to rebuild economic security in the wake of the financial turmoil.
“We may not be able to use the word recession, but we certainly know that families are hurting back home,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel. “Our communities have lost jobs in the economic downturn and many of our panelists today will have to return home to meet the challenge of balancing their budgets, making decisions to cut services while weighing the possible economic impact of cuts to education, health care and other vital areas. It is my hope that, as a result of testimony at this hearing, members of this committee would better realize how critical a new recovery effort is and that they would encourage the leadership of both parties to come back after the election and see what we can do to provide assistance to working families as well as local and State governments as we have done for the banking and financial sectors.” |