WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today Congressman David Wu released the following statement after the Senate voted 61-37 to pass its version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act:

“We must move as quickly as possible to enact an economic recovery package that is in line with President Obama’s priorities.  The Senate’s education cuts make it very difficult for me to support the final version of the bill if it mirrors what passed the Senate this afternoon.

It is crucial that we both employ people today and build our economic capacity for the future.  The education and research components of the Obama package do just that.  From Pell Grants for higher education, to aid that will keep Oregon schools from closing their doors, to updated school buildings, we must invest in our current and future workforce.  The stimulus education funding will not only create and save jobs, it will keep students in school, rather than adding them to the unemployment lines.

I know we are spending real money here.  Every dollar we spend is borrowed against our future, so the benefits should accrue both today and tomorrow.  Funding education is one of the best ways to meet the needs of today while building a better tomorrow.  We must ensure that we don’t return to the failed economic policies of the past by restoring the education cuts made by the Senate and investing in better days ahead.