WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. John Kerry today condemned the Senate’s failure to debate and pass a comprehensive economic stimulus package. The bill would have provided unemployment benefits and funding for transportation, housing, food, education, small businesses and energy programs.

Republicans blocked the $56 billion stimulus package introduced by Senate Democrats Thursday following threats of a White House veto.

“With the country awaits a responsible, long-term solution to the financial crisis on Wall Street, it seems Republicans have lost site of the fact that Americans all across the country are suffering in a failing Bush economy right now,” said Sen. Kerry. “It’s our duty to help families facing skyrocketing energy costs, food prices, foreclosure rates, and unemployment. It’s time to end the roadblocks and grandstanding and give the aid Americans are desperately calling for.”

Included in the package was a provision from Sen. Kerry that to address soaring energy prices. Kerry called for $500 million in home weatherization programs to improve the energy efficiency of low-income housing. The funding would weatherize about 300,000 homes and save each household about $400 in energy costs this coming year.

The failed stimulus contained several important small business provisions that would have helped renew the economy during this time of fiscal crisis. Democrats aimed to provide $200 million to support $16 billion in reduced-fee loans. Additionally, the package would have provided $1 million to support almost $9 million in microloans – small-scale business loans – which provide essential financing to the underserved, like women, minorities and rural and inner-city communities. Veterans and entrepreneurs using energy-efficient technology would have received even lower fees and $70 million in loans and grants would have supported income and employment expansion to improve businesses in rural areas.

“These changes would have lowered costs for borrowers and increased the number of eligible firms at a time when we need our small businesses, the drivers of our local economies, as much as they need us,” said Kerry.

The Republicans succeeded in blocking a provision to provide $600,000 in funding to help save and maintain three veterans’ business resource centers. The centers in St. Louis, Mo., Boston, Mass., and Flint, Mich. have received inadequate funding since September of last year, pushing forcing the centers to reduce services, fire staff, and pushing them to the verge of closing.

“Our solders abroad make tremendous sacrifices for our country every day. The least we can do is to give them the economic opportunities to succeed once they return home,” Kerry added.

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