02.16.09

Chairman Miller Statement on Obama Signing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today as President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. 

“Today, just four weeks after taking office, President Obama has taken a critical first step to lift our economy out of this crisis by saving and creating millions of jobs and laying the foundation for sustainable economic growth – in part by making historic investments in the education of our children. Moving as quickly as he did on this economic recovery plan was not an easy feat. President Obama deserves great credit for what we were able to accomplish on behalf of both unemployed and employed Americans, their families and our economy.  

“As President Obama has made clear, this is just the beginning. As we continue working to revive our economy, we must make sure that it truly works for all Americans again. In order for our economy to remain strong and competitive, it must give all children the opportunity to get an excellent, affordable education. It must ensure that workers can earn fair wages and decent benefits, including affordable health care coverage. It must make sure that American workplaces are safe and healthy so that we can fully leverage the productivity and innovation of all workers. And it must make good on the promise that Americans can enjoy a secure retirement after a lifetime of hard work. I look forward to working with the Obama administration and Congress to make these goals a reality, to rebuild and strengthen our middle class, and to restore the American Dream and all of the opportunities it promises.”

For more information on how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will help schoolchildren, students and workers, click here