Last week, President Barack Obama signed into law a bold economic stimulus package. The bill was the right jolt for our economy at the right time. Many Iowans have lost their jobs, retirement savings and access to health care and we needed to act. Across our state, the recovery package will bring thousands of new jobs, modernized schools, dollars for college students, and extended unemployment benefits for people out of work. It will help stop the bleeding in our economy and put Iowans back to work.
The economic recovery package will save or create 37,000 jobs in Iowa and rebuild roads, bridges and buildings in communities of all sizes. We included nearly $360 million to build and repair Iowa's highway systems, $19.3 million to construct and rehabilitate affordable housing for low income families, and nearly $54 million to ensure Iowans have clean water.
This package also invests in our most important natural resources - our people. It contains $386 million to stabilize Iowa's education fund, $1.2 million to provide school lunches to low income kids, nearly $19 million for Iowa law enforcement, $169 million in benefits to provide immediate relief for kids and families who find themselves struggling to put food on the table and $82 million to weatherize homes so Iowans can stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. These are just a few examples of the funding that is coming directly to the state.
I fully realize our economy is in an historic downturn and this mess will not be cleaned up overnight. But the package the President signed is a good first step toward a new day. I am committed to ensuring your tax dollars are spent wisely and I encourage you to visit www.recovery.gov to track how each dollar is being spent. I have also set up a section on my website (http://harkin.senate.gov/arra/index.cfm) that includes more in-depth details of the benefits Iowans stand to receive.
I look forward to the economic activity these investments will spur and will continue to work with the President to ensure we do what we can to create new jobs and turn our economy around.
Your Senator,
Tom Harkin
