Washington, DC - Rep. Peter Welch voted for and the House passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Friday. The vote was 246 to 183. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill later today, and then it will be sent to President Obama to sign.

Prior to the vote, Welch spoke in favor of the bill on the House floor. Click here to watch his speech.

Welch also issued the following statement:

"President Obama understands what Vermonters know: our economy is struggling and bold action is required to stem job loss and restore growth. Throughout our state, people are hurting. Lost jobs, lost wages and lost opportunities have triggered a loss of confidence in our economy.

"This plan is a major step toward restoring that confidence. Is it perfect? Certainly not. Is it essential? Without question.

"Throughout this debate, my priorities have been to take whatever practical steps we can to revive the economy. My focus with this stimulus package has been to relieve pressure on Vermont taxpayers, create sustainable green jobs, and provide relief to hardworking Vermonters who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. This bill achieves those goals.

"We have a long road ahead of us and this is just the first step of many - but I am hopeful that our actions today will set us in the right direction."