Date: 2011-02-18
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Its unfortunate that Republicans want to issue a point of order. We asked unanimous consent for amendments that have been placed timely into the RECORD against jobs. And that is what my amendment is about. It clearly is about restoring the $5 billion that the Republicans want to take out and block American jobs. You can clearly see how long weve been here. and there have been actually no jobs being created by Republicans. This amendment does simply one thing: It restores the $5 billion in stimulus dollars that have created thousands upon thousands of jobs. It has created this housing for lowincome housing. It has created this kind of map that shows that stimulus jobs have been all over America and created 585.653 jobs. 253.000 projects. It is interesting that our friends can support President Obama on agricultural subsidies. but they can create no jobs. and they want to oppose restoring the $5 billion in stimulus dollarsand I might call them reinvestment dollars. In addition. our friends want to ignore the fact that by taking away $5 billion they close what we call community health clinics. Yes. this is where Americans are now getting their good health care. in community clinics. So I would argue that it is a shame that we have a situation where you cannot present this amendment. Jobs. the idea of infrastructure investment. the idea of lowincome housing that is being created. and as well. projects like housing for the elderly in Minnesota. Kawana Village Apartments that are in the Washington area. Father Murphy Phase III. 10 new rental duplexes in Shawnee. Oklahoma. Blackfeet housing. 223 homes. again. in Montana. Mount View Village Lodge. again in Alaska. And of course Pueblo Housing in El Paso. Texas. Can you tell me why you want to eliminate the idea and the ability for individuals to work by taking away the moneys that have been invested in America? That is what this has done. In Houston alone. Center Point has been able to improve their grids to provide more energy for our community. We have gotten $849 million that has put people to work and has provided health care. has improved the environment. I would ask my colleagues to take away the point of order. to not say Im out of order. Youre putting a point of order on American jobs. And I think it is insane to not be able to allow a Member to stand and say that the moneys that youre taking away have proven themselves to be moneys that have been legitimate and have called upon the American people to rise up and to be employed. There are people who are now at their 99th level of not being able to get employed and get unemployment insurance. They need these jobs. The $5 billion that will be taken away will be impacting projects yet to come that will help rebuild Americas infrastructure. I thank the gentleman from Washington for allowing this explanation. but I hopefully will be heard at least by the colleagues and the people of the United States on this amendment. restoring simply $5 billion. There was a second amendment that was going to make the point that we dont want Americans to know how much great work the Recovery Act has done by taking money away for signs that have been put up. Im willing to withdraw that amendment because $5 billion is $5 billion to put Americans to work. I am simply appalled at the fact that we dont have the opportunity to share with the American people their tax dollars to make sure that they have the opportunity to work. to have good health care. to have housing. and to have good energy relief to make sure that our environment is safe and that we expand our independence by having the kind of energy efficiency that seniors are in need of. So to the gentleman from Washington. I do want to acknowledge that the Recovery Act moneys have been an effective tool for building jobs. And frankly. 1.000 jobs were created in Houston.