Tierney votes for stimulus package

PEABODY – Asserting that it will save or create approximately 7,500 jobs on the North Shore, U.S. Rep. John F. Tierney voted Friday to support the national economic recovery stimulus package known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.Tierney, a Salem Democrat with congressional committee memberships related to labor, education and workforce development, said those who supported the legislation chose responsible action over inaction.The final version of the recovery package passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 246 to 183. President Barack Obama was expected to sign the measure into law following a vote by the Senate.'”With today’s vote, we have chosen responsible action over inaction. We have chosen to cut taxes for 95 percent of American workers as well as provide relief to small businesses,” Tierney said Friday. “We have chosen to help create or save more than 3.5 million jobs in the next two years. We have chosen to help states and communities from having to lay off thousands of police, firefighters and health care professionals. This measure is a pivotal step toward taking our country in a new direction.”According to Tierney, the recovery package also spells tax relief for most Americans.”Under the bill, an estimated 95 percent of Americans will receive an immediate tax cut. Individual workers will receive a $400 payroll tax credit, while married couples will receive $800. Social Security recipients, veterans and disabled Americans will also receive a one-time $250 tax-free payment,” he said.The legislation is expected to create or save 3.5 million jobs, including an estimated 79,000 in Massachusetts and as many as 7,500 in North Shore communities, the congressman said, noting the jobs will be created in a range of industries from clean energy to health care, construction, energy and science. Ninety percent of those jobs would be in the private sector.With unemployment and rising costs out-pacing domestic paychecks, the legislation will help workers keep their health insurance coverage for up to 9 months through COBRA and obtain the training and skills they need to find jobs while providing extended unemployment benefits to help struggling families make ends meet, the congressman said.”Many people in my district and millions of others across the country have lost their jobs. This legislation will help train and prepare them for the highly-skilled ‘green jobs’ in emerging energy and environmental technologies. Such investments will help make our workforce more competitive, spur long-term growth and strengthen and transform our economy for the 21st Century,” Tierney said.The recovery package also boosts education by directing billions of dollars to local school districts as well as to state governors to prevent layoffs, he said.Based on estimates from the House Committee on Education and Labor, school districts in the 6th Congressional District on the North Shore will receive millions of dollars in additional direct education aid for special education, Title 1 and for maintenance and repairs or modernization, he said. The bill also helps make college more affordable to students and their families by expanding the higher education tax credit to a maximum of $2,500, increasing the maximum Pell Grant scholarship by $500 to $5,350 and providing an additional $200 million for the college work-study program.”The recovery package provides urgent assistance to local school districts to prevent staff and program cuts and to maintain the resources our children need to obtain a quality education,” Tierney said.” And, putting people to work right away to renovate, repair and modernize our schools and colleges will not only boost our local economy, but will also provide students with state-of-the art classrooms in which they can learn the skills necessary to succeed.”Massachusetts will receive over $700 million to create new jobs by rebuilding deteriorating roads and bridges and modernizing mass transit systems.