January 28, 2009                                                      201-222-2828 or 201-918-0033

Washington, D.C.  Today, Congressman Albio Sires voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 244 to 188.  This bill will help stimulate the economy by providing short-term assistance to the unemployed, working families, and state and local governments all of whom face shrinking incomes and rising costs.  At the same time the bill focuses on the long term by making investments in education, health care, and infrastructure.

“I am proud to vote today for a bill that includes tax relief for my constituents, creates jobs in the transportation and infrastructure sector, helps state and local governments address their budget shortfalls, and stabilizes the economy,” said Congressman Sires.

This recovery bill will create 3 to 4 million jobs nationwide and tens of thousands of new jobs in New Jersey.  It also provides immediate and direct tax relief for 95 percent of working families, as well as for job-creating small businesses.  The investment in transportation and infrastructure is particularly important and will modernize our crumbling infrastructure.  The bill makes important investments in education, energy and health care, touching nearly every aspect of the economy to provide immediate economic recovery.  Finally, the bill ensures that nearly all of the spending is spent quickly and with full transparency so taxpayers know the money is spent wisely, in a manner that will grow our economy and save money in the long term. 

“By helping the average American employer and employee with their taxes, we ensure they have income to grow their business and make investments in their future,” said Congressman Sires.  “By funding education, science, and improvements in health care and energy, we are ensuring a prosperous future for everyone.”

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