Congressman Sander Levin

Jobs, Manufacturing and the Economy

This is the worst economy that most people have seen in their lifetimes. Since the start of the recession in December 2007 we have lost 4.4 million jobs. In the last four months alone we have lost more than 500,000 jobs a month indicating that the downward spiral is continuing. The job losses extend across all sectors of the U.S. economy. Credit is all but frozen. Consumer purchasing power is in decline. Businesses as well as state and local governments are cutting back spending. A million homes were lost to foreclosure last year.

On February 13, the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate approved a $787 billion economic recovery bill [H.R. 1] to help stimulate the economy and create and save millions of jobs.

On the infrastructure side, the bill contains over a billion dollars to repair Michigan’s crumbling roads, bridges and sewers. It provides $124 million to create jobs in Michigan by improving the energy efficiency of modest-income homes through weatherization. It also creates jobs by investing in a clean energy economy to transform our electric grid and generate homegrown renewable energy. The bill contains $2 billion in grants to support U.S. development of advanced vehicle batteries so that America can lead the world in transforming the way automobiles are powered.

The recovery bill also contains the President’s Making Work Pay Credit of $400 per individual or $800 per couple. This provision will provide a tax cut to 95% of working Americans. Further, we provide relief to businesses as well as assistance to state and local governments who are struggling to balance budgets in this recession.

Importantly, the legislation also extends unemployment insurance benefits, provides a health care COBRA subsidy for unemployed workers and additional resources for re-training programs.

To read more about the Recovery and Reinvestment Package, click here

To track the federal progress, click here and to review Michigan’s effort to implement the recovery package, click here

All together, the recovery package is worth more than $18 billion to Michigan. It is an important first step to addressing the dire economic situation confronting our state and the nation. I am working with state and local officials so that may utilize these resources as quickly as possible.

The recovery legislation also includes provisions to help ensure accountability, oversight, and transparency, including a dedicated website which will allow citizens to track every penny and hold federal, state, and local officials accountable for performance. The bill further creates a Recovery Act Accountability and Transparency Board to coordinate and conduct oversight of federal spending under the bill.

• Advance Technology Vehicles
• Fuel Costs
• The Housing Crisis
• Job Stimulus