Does the House Jobs Bill Do Enough?
December 17th, 2009 by Dan Lavoie
PolicyLink statement on the House Jobs Bill
Congress is right - we need a new jobs bill, and we need it now. When it comes to helping those hit first and worst by the recession - low-income people and communities of color - the House bill is a good start, but it is too small and not targeted at the hardest-hit workers.
The bill does offer important investments in green industries, workforce training, teacher retention, and safety net programs like Medicaid and unemployment.
But the final jobs bill must be far more robust and targeted to create jobs and long-term recovery in all our communities. The Senate should build on this bill’s foundation to prioritize those suffering most. They must:
- Require local hiring
- Direct projects to underrepresented firms
- Boost funding for transit operations and capital projects
The House bill is a good first step. But the path to recovery is long. A more robust and targeted bill is needed to ensure all our communities come out the other side of this recession stronger.