THE LEADER'S REPORT: WEEK OF JANUARY 11, 2010

This week marked the beginning of the Second Session of the 111th Congress. As Democrats continue to make job creation and economic recovery our top priority this Year, this week brought encouraging news marking a good start to 2010. A quarterly report from the White House Council of Economic Advisors showed that the Recovery Act is having its intended effect, having now created or saved nearly 2 million jobs, an indication that the economy is on the road to recovery. While this is progress, it is not enough: our economy is still losing jobs and Americans are still out of work.  This year, we will remain focused on taking every action we can to get Americans back on the job.

 

Democratic Leadership briefing reporters on January 14, 2010.

Another priority of Democrats is to enact health insurance reform legislation that provides greater health care stability and security for all Americans. This week we made significant progress in bridging the differences between the House and Senate bills and we hope to have final legislation ready very soon that will offer unprecedented new protections and benefits, and help contain the sky-rocketing health care costs burdening American families, businesses and taxpayers.

 

Next week, we will continue our efforts to reform our health care system and rebuild the economy. In addition, the House will take up two measures related to the tragedy in Haiti.  The first is a resolution expressing the formal condolences of the people of the United States to the people of Haiti.  The second will encourage charitable giving to help the people of Haiti by allowing Americans to include this charitable deduction on their 2009 tax return.  We hope these measures will show our support for the people of Haiti and provide the assistance they so desparately need.

 

In response to a report issued by the White House Council of Economic Advisors, Leader Hoyer said that while the report showed further evidence that the Recovery Act has played a role in stopping the economic downturn and starting to reverse the slide, Democrats’ top priority remains creating jobs and strengthening the economy. 

Read release [3]

Fact Sheet: Top 5 Economic Developments of 2009 [4]

 

Following this week’s devastating earthquake, Leader Hoyer expressed support for the people of Haiti and joined with the President and others in committing humanitarian aid, and civilian and military disaster relief, to help the people of Haiti as they struggle to recover.

Read release [5]

 

Hoyer Statement on Financial Crisis Responsibility Fee

Leader Hoyer applauded the President's decision to ensure that taxpayers are repaid in full by those on Wall Street who were helped by the TARP program. When the taxpayers rescued our financial system from collapse last year, Democrats insisted that there be a plan for recovering those funds, and this action will help achieve that objective.

Read release [6]