This week, President Barack Obama sent the American Jobs Act to Congress. This important legislation will get more Americans back to work and help to strengthen our economy. Right here in Connecticut, the American Jobs Act will produce or support thousands of jobs, including:
· 5,300 local construction jobs through highway, rail, transit and other modernization improvements;
· 3,800 educator and first responder jobs;
· 2,400 jobs through investments in local school improvement projects; and
· 1,300 adult and 5,200 youth jobs through the Pathways Back to Work Fund.
“The American Jobs Act will create jobs and strengthen our economy, plain and simple,” said Connecticut Democratic Party Chair Nancy DiNardo. “It will put more Americans back to work and put more money back into the pockets of middle-class families and small businesses. The time to pass this is now.”
In addition, the plan would invest about $50,500,000 in the state to refurbish and rehabilitate foreclosed homes, putting local residential contractors back on the job while improving our neighborhoods. It would also provide relief to 70,000 Connecticut employers, especially small employers, by cutting the payroll tax in half for the first $5 million in wages. Workers would also benefit from an extension of the payroll tax cut and from sweeping reforms to the unemployment insurance system.
“The American Jobs Act means more Connecticut families will feel secure and more Connecticut families will be able to better make ends meet, save for their children’s education and support their local retailers and restaurants,” DiNardo said. “The people of Connecticut are asking for Washington to listen to them. Congressman John Larson and our Congressional Delegation have heard the message loud and clear. It’s time for Congress to pass this plan for working families.”
