Wednesday, Dececmber 16, 2009

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District voted today for legislation that will create jobs in Nevada.  By redirecting TARP funds from Wall Street to Main Street, the bill will invest in highways and transit, job training, school renovation, affordable housing, and hiring teachers, police, and firefighters.  The Jobs for Main Street Act passed by a vote of 217 to 212.

“With Nevada facing near record unemployment, we cannot sit back and hope the economy turns around,” Congresswoman Titus said.  “We must take action that creates jobs and puts Nevadans back to work.  Using TARP funds sends a clear signal that it is time to help Main Street recover from the deepest recession since the Great Depression.  While there are more innovative ideas that we must implement down the road, provisions in this bill, such as investing in infrastructure, will provide a boost to our hard hit construction industry while improving our aging roads and highways.  By providing critical assistance to Nevada’s families that have struggled to make ends meet, we will offer some relief at a time when every dollar counts.”

Specifically, the Jobs for Main Street Act provides $48 billion to rebuild crumbling roads and bridges, modernize public buildings and clean our air and water.  Nevada would receive more than $564 million for highways and bridges.  It also includes $27 billion for the hiring of teachers, police, and firefighters and for job training.  Small businesses will also benefit from initiatives that help them create jobs, such as eliminating fees on SBA loans and raising the portion of a loan that SBA will guarantee to 90 percent.

For those hardest hit by the recession, the bill extends unemployment benefits, protecting approximately one million Americans who will otherwise lose their benefits.  It also helps workers who have recently lost their job afford health care with assistance for the COBRA program.  In addition, states will receive funding for Medicaid.  Finally, the Child Tax Credit will be available to all low-income working families with children.

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Tags: economy, education, health care, jobs, Transportation and Infrastructure