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Washington, D.C.— Today, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, a member of the Joint Economic Committee, released the following statement in response to Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s potential plans to call lawmakers back to Washington after the November elections:
“Last week, Democrats and Republicans came together to pass an $850 billion economic recovery package targeted at the crisis on Wall Street. Now, it is time for us to come together and pass a recovery package targeted directly at Main Street. Millions of families and individuals are struggling with all of their might to keep their heads above water as we are drowning in the fallout of the last 8 years of Bush-McCain economic policy.
“Americans have lost more than 600,000 jobs this year, and with two people vying for every one job, many are unable to find new employment. People’s bank accounts are being drained at the gas pump and at the grocery store. More and more families are having their power shut off because they cannot afford their utility bills. As we enter the winter months, people are very worried about what sacrifices they need to make to afford to heat their homes.
“The House passed a responsible stimulus package last month that would help many people hold on to their jobs, their homes, their health care—and their dreams. It would create new jobs by rebuilding our roads, bridges, and highways and by funding job training programs. It includes measures that have a proven history of immediately stimulating the economy by putting money in the hands of men and women who will immediately spend it—such as extending unemployment benefits and expanding food stamp benefits. It provides a temporary increase in the Federal Medical Assistant Percentage for Medicaid health costs, which would prevent cuts to health insurance and health care services for low-income children and families.
“I fully support Speaker Pelosi’s plans to call Congress back to Washington after the November elections to pass an expanded version of this legislation. We, as lawmakers, simply cannot turn our backs on the people who are suffering the most in this economic crisis, and I am confident that my colleagues will agree on the need to continue the economic recovery by passing a responsible, common sense stimulus package that will benefit the people on Main Street.”
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