House Passes Bill to Keep 319,000 Teachers, Police, Firefighters & Nurses on the Job

This afternoon, the House passed the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act (HR 1586) by a vote of 247-161. Speaker Pelosi enrolled the bill this afternoon, sending it to President Obama for his signature into law:

The bill saves and creates 319,000 jobs, including 161,000 teacher jobs, closes tax loopholes that encourage corporations to ship American jobs overseas, and reduces the deficit by $1.4 billion. These funds are immediately needed--for example, most public schools in Georgia are opening this week. The sooner this bill becomes law, the sooner school districts can rehire teachers and stop planned layoffs. Failure to pass this bill would force states to lay off more workers, cut more services, and raise taxes more than they would otherwise to balance their budgets. These actions would further slow our economic recovery. Learn more about the bill»

Speaker Pelosi in support of passage:

Education & Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-CA):

Ways & Means Committee Chairman Sander Levin (D-MI):

Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-WI):

Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA):