Congressman Rick Larsen's Online Office

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Rick Larsen today renewed his call for Congress to pass a 2nd economic stimulus package to create jobs and strengthen our infrastructure by investing in roads, bridges and highways, and to help the Americans hurt the most by rising food costs and the economic downtown by providing more aid for food stamps.

“We need a 2nd economic stimulus package to create jobs, strengthen our infrastructure and help the Americans struggling the most in this economic downturn,” said Larsen, who visited food banks in Snohomish county last week.

During those visits, Larsen heard from his constituents about the rising cost of food and the influx of people turning to food banks for help. While the new farm bill passed by Congress this spring expands nutrition programs and nearly doubles funding for food banks and soup kitchens through the Emergency Food Assistance Program, Larsen says that more must be done.

“The cost of food has gone through the roof, but the buying power of food stamps has failed to keep up,” said Larsen. “I urge the President and my colleagues in Congress to provide more help for Americans struggling with hunger and food insecurity.”

Under current law, the amount of Food Stamp benefits available for families in need is based on out-of-date information that fails to take into account recent increases in food costs.  According to a report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the most recent statistics available show that food stamp benefits provide $46 a month less than a family of four needs for a nutritionally adequate diet.

Larsen, a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said that the stimulus package must also include investments in our nation’s immediate transportation and infrastructure needs that will create jobs and give taxpayers a strong return on their investment. 

“Investing in infrastructure projects that are ready-to-go will create good-paying jobs, improve the safety of our roads and bridges and keep our economy moving. Every $1 billion we spend on transportation investments creates 47,000 new jobs in our communities.”

Larsen also urged the Senate to pass and the President to sign legislation passed by the House in July to ensure that the Highway Trust Fund, the primary source of federal funding for highways and bridges, does not run out of funding in the coming weeks. On Friday, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters announced that unless Congress and the President intervene, the Highway Trust Fund will go broke by October 1.

“Restoring the Highway Trust Fund is critical for Washington state,” said Larsen. “I urge the Senate to pass and the President to sign our bill to protect Washington state from losing vital transportation funding and 7,211 local jobs.”

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