CONGRESSMAN HANK JOHNSON
Georgia's Fourth Congressional District

Rep. Hank Johnson: GA needs recovery, reinvestment plan

Congressman emphasizes mass transit in support of president’s plan to create jobs, boost economy

January 28, 2009

WASHINGTON -- Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) today joined a majority of his colleagues in the House of Representatives to support the president’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The $819 billion plan, which passed 244 to 188, will work to create and save three to four million jobs – including crucial investments in education, infrastructure, renewable energy and healthcare.  It now moves on to the Senate.

Under the plan, Georgia would receive more than $5.6 billion, and more than 95 percent of Americans and small businesses would receive an immediate tax cut.

Johnson emphasized jobs and mass transit, urging House leadership to consider investing even more in mass transit.

MARTA, so vital to the people in his district, would receive about $121 million in capital grants under the plan as it now stands.

The Congressman would like to see more.

“Talk of possible MARTA fare increases and cuts in service due to the transit system’s budget deficit has not been lost on me,” said Johnson.

“People in my district depend on mass transit in their everyday lives; to get to their places of employment, to take their children to school or daycare, and to shop for food and other necessities.”

Overall Johnson supports the bill, which could bring millions of dollars to help put people back to work, build local schools, repair crumbling roads, bridges and bring high-speed Internet to struggling businesses.

“This won’t be an easy fix, we have a lot of work to do,” said Johnson.

“But as President Obama said in his inaugural address, the past eight years represent ‘the collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.’ It’s time for us to  reinvest in the American people, invest in the people of the middle class and help everyday people by extending unemployment insurance, boosting food stamp programs and doing more for our seniors and veterans.”

Johnson, who called the vote “critical” and “historic” said he is satisfied the Obama Administration will keep a close eye on how the money is spent.

“The Government Accountability Office, Inspectors General and the new Accountability and Transparency Board will carefully review all funding decisions, striving to prevent waste and fraud. This money isn’t being spent to bail out corrupt CEOs. Americans need to know this money will be spent to get us out of this recession.”

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