CHICAGO,
IL – I want to thank ACORN for holding today’s rally and for continuing
to be a strong voice for low income and working families and for our community.
Our
nation has experienced an indescribable tragedy. Millions of Americans
are not only suffering from the emotional scars, they are also feeling
the economic pains. Over 140,000 airline workers have lost their
jobs and their health care coverage; families are no longer able to afford
the monthly mortgage payments; and small businesses across the country
are going bankrupt. Even before September 11, countless others were
struggling to pay for health care, housing, living in poverty, and living
on the streets. Now, these problems are even worse.
It
must be the priority of this Congress to set forth an agenda, an American
economic stimulus package, that puts families, workers, and our communities
first, ahead of tax cuts for rich. Unfortunately, there are some
in Congress who refuse to see it our way. No matter the circumstances,
they promote their agenda of more taxes to the rich, big business, and
the well connected. Don’t take my word my for it, just look at what
is happening in Washington. The Republican Chairman of the House
Ways and Means Committee is pushing an economic stimulus package with billions
of dollars for corporations and generous taxpayer giveaways to big business.
Others are ready to vote through a new round of tax cuts ($60 billion)
that neither stimulates the economy nor helps those in need.
That
is why I introduced a sound economic initiative, H.R. 2999, the First Things
First Act of 2001, that will help the federal government meet the long
term critical needs of millions of Americans and respond to the September
11th terrorist attacks. The First Things First Act would put on hold
parts of President Bush’s tax cut that benefit the wealthy, freeing at
least $340 billion for domestic priorities. It’s not too much
to ask that the richest people in America wait to receive a tax windfall
so that our country can deal responsibly with the economic and national
security crises we face today
I
am also working with my Democratic colleagues on a real economic stimulus
bill worth more than $130 billion to provide funding for health care benefits,
job retraining, unemployment compensation, and targeted tax relief for
low income families.
Like
you, my priority is helping American workers and families and strengthening
our communities. It’s time for an economic stimulus package that
works for all of us, not just some of us. |