Speaker Pelosi to Call the House Back Next Week
Senate jobs bill clears key hurdlePresident Barack Obama and his allies in the Senate have won a key vote to advance a bill to help states and local school boards with their severe budget problems.
The bill would extend programs enacted in last year's stimulus law to help preserve the jobs of tens of thousands of teachers and other public employees.
The 61-38 vote Wednesday ensures the measure will pass the Senate shortly. A final vote in the House will be needed to deliver it for Obama's signature.
@SpeakerPelosi announced the House will come back into session next week to consider the bill:
The Speaker's full statement:
The House welcomes the passage tomorrow by the Senate of the long-delayed support for teachers, nurses and urgent services for children and seniors and people with disabilities. The House passed the state assistance (FMAP) bill twice last year and the funding to keep teachers on the job in December and this spring.As millions of children prepare to go back to school -- many in just a few days -- the House will act quickly to approve this legislation once the Senate votes. In consultation with our leadership, I am calling Members of the House back to Washington at the beginning of the week to pass this bill and send it to President Obama without further delay.
Read a summary of the bill from the Senate DPC»
UPDATE: Leader Hoyer has announced the vote will be on Tuesday morning, August 10th:
Next week, the House will return to session to vote to keep teachers on the job and provide assistance to states to ensure health services continue for those in need. Both of those provisions have already passed the House twice, and now that the Senate is moving forward to pass this critical aid, I look forward to bringing it to the House Floor for a vote.The House will meet in pro forma session on Monday, and will be in at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday to vote on the bill and send it to the President for his signature.