Clyburn Responds to Obama Economic Speech
Thursday, January 8, 2009
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WASHINGTON, DC—House Majority Whip, James E. Clyburn today responded to a speech delivered by President-elect Barack Obama on the proposed American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, legislation that Congress will soon take up to save or create over three million jobs, invest in education, health care and energy, and stimulate the economy.
“The jobs report to be released on Friday is likely to show that we lost over two million jobs last year, more than any year since World War II. We learned yesterday that we’re facing a record deficit of $1.2 trillion in 2009 and an unemployment rate above nine percent in 2010. We face real crises in virtually every aspect of American life—housing, health care, education, employment, energy and environment. Americans have lost confidence in our economy and feel terrific anxiety and uncertainty about the future.
“How did we get here? As President-elect Obama explained, it was the era of irresponsibility which reached from Wall Street to Washington—lack of transparency, oversight and accountability.
“It’s now time to turn the page and restore people’s confidence in the American dream. The focus of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan is to jumpstart the economy, invest in local communities and put people back to work. We will invest heavily in alternative energy and energy efficiency; in modernizing schools and colleges; in computerizing medical records; and in innovations in science and technology.
“Congress must come together and act quickly on this recovery package. We cannot let ideological differences and political gamesmanship get in the way of restoring our economy. The needs of our constituents are too great. That’s why I am working with my colleagues to ensure that under this legislation, low-income and rural communities are not forgotten, and local entities have access to federal stimulus funding even if their governor or other state officials decline to take advantage of the robust investment our economy needs and our people deserve.”
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