The Other Dream Act

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D., IL) has re-introduced the Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act. Though the US unemployment rate has been steadily decreasing over the past two plus years, the Representative's press release (partially below the jump) seems to consider the lingering high unemployment rate and sequester cuts an "emergency." 

Rep. Schakowsky Reintroduces the Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act

Washington, DC (April 18, 2013) – Rep. Jan Schakowsky reintroduced H.R. 1617 the Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act today:

"Today, I reintroduced my jobs plan, the Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act, which would make needed investment in good-paying jobs that will strengthen American communities all over the country.

"Our unemployment rate remains unacceptably high, and job growth took a major hit last month as our economy began to feel the impacts of the automatic spending cuts, known as the sequester. We need to increase hiring by investing in American communities, public lands, and infrastructure. With more Americans employed, more spending will occur in the private sector, helping to bring more prosperity to our country. My bill would fund more than 2 million jobs over the next two years, providing the kick start our economy – and the middle class and those striving to reach it – so desperately need.

"This investment in job creation can be fully paid for by asking the wealthiest Americans, who have maintained record incomes as our economy crumbled and then slowly recovered, to contribute just a bit more."

Background on the Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act:

• Creates over 2.2 million jobs to address the real crisis facing America: the jobs crisis.
• Emergency jobs are created for two years, to provide time to get the economy back up and running.
• Emergency jobs will meet critical needs to make American communities stronger.
• Costs $227 billion, divided between fiscal years 2012 and 2013.
• Can be fully paid for through separate legislation such as Rep. Schakowsky's Fairness in Taxation Act, which creates higher tax brackets for millionaires and billionaires, eliminating subsidies for Big Oil, and eliminating tax loopholes for corporations that ship American jobs overseas.
• In appropriate programs, includes preferences for hiring unemployed workers (including "99ers" and veterans), distribution formulas that target need, and protections for new and existing workers. ...