Congressman Sander Levin

(Washington D.C.)- The U.S. House of Representatives today overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan economic stimulus package.  The Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act passed by a vote of 385-35.

Congressman Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) issued the following statement in response to the legislation’s passage:

“Yesterday, in this very chamber, the president said ‘our economy is undergoing a period of uncertainty.’  For millions of people in this country, our economic difficulties are very, very certain indeed.

“Unemployment is rising significantly.  Long-term unemployment is now twice as high as it was in the last recession.  And in Michigan, over 72,000 will exhaust their jobless benefits in the first half of this year.

“The stimulus package announced today is an important, bipartisan first step.  But economists widely agree that extending unemployment insurance is one of the most stimulative approaches that can be undertaken, as it puts money into the economy immediately.  In the past, extensions of unemployment benefits have come too late.  The time for action on extension is here and now.”  

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