Congressman Gerry Connolly today voted with the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  The bill passed the House by a 246-183 vote and will be taken up by the Senate later today before being sent to President Obama to be signed into law.

Calling the economic recovery package “the difference between economic hope and economic collapse,” Connolly said, “I was proud to cast my vote for hope.”

Congressman Connolly said funds designated for the Commonwealth of Virginia and local governments and school systems will create jobs, build and repair roads, bridges, schools, and other infrastructure, and provide significant funding to local school districts to help them reduce projected revenue shortfalls.

Locally and statewide, Connolly said the legislation will:

• Create or save an estimated 93,000 jobs in Virginia, including 9,000 jobs in the 11th CD

• Channel an estimated $55 million directly to Fairfax County and City Public Schools over the next two years to help reduce the school system’s budget shortfall that is expected to exceed $200 million in fiscal year 2010

• Provide an estimated $20 million directly to Prince William County Public Schools over the next two years to help that school system reduce an expected $57 million shortfall in fiscal year 2010

• Provide $1.7 billion in education funding to the Commonwealth of Virginia with significant additional funding directed to Fairfax and Prince William Public Schools through existing state funding formulas

• Provide Virginia with $694.4 million for roads and bridges and $890.6 million for total infrastructure

• Provide a tax cut of up to $800 for 3 million Virginians

• Increase Pell Grant assistance for 127,000 students attending college in Virginia and provide a higher education tax credit to 71,000 Virginians to help them stay in school during tough economic times

 “Today, Congress is delivering on President Obama’s historic plan to start to get the American economy back on track,” Connolly said. “This economic recovery plan will create American jobs now, provide one of the largest tax cuts in American history for 95 percent of American workers, and lay the foundation for long-term growth through clean energy, innovation, and education.”

Connolly said the bill will: help lower health care costs, improve care, and create jobs by computerizing medical records; provide funding to help communities preserve public safety functions including police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel; promote clean, efficient, American energy innovation and technology to create jobs and protect the environment; along with many other provisions aimed at putting the nation’s economy back on track.