Washington, DC - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson today released the following statement on H.R. 3548, the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009, which passed the House of Representatives today by a vote of 403-12.  In Texas, unemployment benefits will be extended fourteen additional weeks.
 
“I voted today for the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act because it will improve our nation’s economy by helping families and businesses.  Passage of this bipartisan bill will extend important unemployment insurance benefits to millions of Americans who are out of work due to circumstances beyond their control.  Extending unemployment benefits is one of the best ways to improve the economy because every dollar spent on unemployment translates to $1.63 in new economic demand.  The bill will also extend the first-time homebuyer tax credit and provide tax relief for military families and struggling businesses.  The homebuyer tax credit is invaluable to lower- and middle-income families who want to purchase a home for the first time.”

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and a senior member of the Science Committee. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which, includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla.