Congressman Hoyer Applauds House Passage of Legislation to Save Jobs for Teachers, Police & First Responders

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) supported House passage of the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act (H.R. 1586), legislation that would save and create almost 320,000 jobs – including those of teachers, police officers, firefighters, and nurses.

"The Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act aims to prevent another vicious cycle of state budget cuts and layoffs, which would hinder our economic growth and prolong already tough times for so many Americans," stated Congressman Hoyer. "While strengthening our economy and our recovery, this bill also adds nothing to the deficit.  Saving the jobs of teachers and our first responders is exactly why it is both right and smart for the federal government to step in and lend a hand today."

The Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act provides $10 billion in funding to save more than 160,000 teacher jobs, including 2,500 in Maryland.  It also provides $16.1 billion in health assistance to the states that, by reducing shortfalls and stimulating the economy, will save and create 158,000 jobs, including preventing the layoffs of police officers and firefighters. This bill is not only completely paid for, it reduces the deficit by $1.4 billion over 10 years—in part by closing a loophole that actually encourages corporations to ship American jobs overseas.

The funding in the bill is supported by a majority of the nation's Governors, including many Republican Governors, and by numerous organizations, including the bipartisan National Conference of State Legislatures, National Association of Counties and the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations.

For more information on how this fully paid-for bill will help save jobs in Maryland and throughout the country, click here.

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