Harry's first priority in Congress is getting our economy back on track.  The country is now experiencing the most difficult economic times in recent history.  Unemployment is heading toward double-digits, and New Mexicans are fearful their job could be the next to go.  Retirement accounts are losing their value, and Americans are losing their homes.  History has shown that not taking decisive action at this point could be catastrophic for our economy and our way of life.

Harry believes that the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 is a critical step towards getting our economy back on track.  The bill is not perfect, and there are provisions he believe should not have been included, and areas in which he believes we could have done more.  Overall, however, the legislation will create jobs in Southern New Mexico, put money back in the hands of the people who need it most, and make necessary investments in the long term growth of this country. 

As a small businessman and a Lea County Commissioner, Harry helped to create thousands of jobs.  He knows that job growth is the key to economic recovery.  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will create or save 22,000 jobs in New Mexico, including 7,100 in Harry's Congressional District.   Spending on badly needed infrastructure projects is one way the stimulus package creates jobs.  The stimulus package allocates $300 million in infrastructure improvements to New Mexico, creating jobs and laying the groundwork for economic development.

In addition, Harry's first amendment as a Member of Congress, later signed into law by the President, added a provision to the economic recovery package to require a website at Recovery.gov to help connect out-of-work Americans with the jobs created by the bill.  Of over 200 amendments submitted, Harry's was one of seven adopted by the House.

The recovery plan also prioritizes our working families by providing them tax relief.  Harry supports the tax cuts in the stimulus because hard-working families can use extra money in their pocket right now.  The recovery plan includes significant middle class tax cuts including the Making Work Pay Credit, which provides a tax cut of $400 per worker for single workers earning up to $75,000 and $800 for married couples earning up to $150,000.  There are about 690,000 New Mexican workers who eligible for the tax cut.