Miller Statement on Senate Approval of Economic Recovery Plan
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today after the Senate passed its version of the economic recovery plan. According to new estimates compiled by the Economic Policy Institute, the $14 billion in school modernization passed as part of the House’s economic recovery plan would create at least 315,000 more jobs than the Senate-passed bill.
“While I am glad the Senate has now joined the House in passing legislation to get our economy moving forward again, it appears the Senate bill creates about 400,000 fewer jobs than the House legislation. With more Americans losing their jobs by the day, we must make every effort to bring that figure up.
“As President Obama has said, one way we can do that is by restoring investments to modernize our nation’s schools and colleges. The $14 billion to repair, renovate and update public schools included in the House plan would create at least 315,000 more jobs than what the Senate bill generates. Modernizing our schools and colleges is a common-sense way we can quickly create jobs while helping our students get a 21st century education, and should get restored to this plan as negotiations move forward.”
The House passed version of the legislation invested $14 billion in modernizing k-12 schools and $6 billion in modernizing colleges and universities -- for a total of $20 billion. Based on EPI’s calculations, the k-12 school modernization funding alone would create 97,000 new construction jobs, 68,000 jobs in related-input industries, and an additional 150,000 jobs as workers re-spend their earnings.
For more information on other education investments included in the House plan that will save or create jobs, click here.
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