Crossposted at ProgressVA
President Obama’s American Jobs Act is commonsense legislation that will put Americans back to work and get our economy moving again. Both Republicans and Democrats have supported nearly all the proposals. The plan is simple: put people back to work and put more money in the pockets of working Americans.
Tell Congress: pass this bill right away to get our economy moving again!
Here’s what it means for Virginia:
150,000: The number of Virginia firms that would receive a payroll tax cut under the American Jobs Act. The President’s plan would cut the payroll tax in half for employers on the first $5 million in wage, providing broad tax relief.
10,500: The minimum number of local jobs that would be created by infrastructure investments under the American Jobs Act.
$809,000,000: The amount of immediate investments to be made in Virginia’s infrastructure under the American Jobs Act. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, 26% of Virginia’s bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, 23% of Virginia’s roads are in poor or mediocre condition and 33% of Virginia’s major urban highways are congested.
10,800: The number of educator and first responder jobs that would be protected under the American Jobs Act. The President’s plan would provide Virginia with $742,300,000 in funds to help the state and localities avoid and reverse layoffs now.
$425,300,000: The amount of money Virginia would receive to modernize public schools. Improving classrooms and upgrading our schools to meet 21st century needs will ensure that our students are learning in the best environment in which to succeed.
5,500: The number of jobs to be created by investment in school upgrades under the American Jobs Act.
$20,000,000: The amount Virginia could receive under the American Jobs Act to put construction workers back to work rehabilitating and refurbishing hundreds of thousands of vacant and foreclosed homes and businesses.
$110,100,000: The amount Virginia could receive under the American Jobs Act to fund community colleges, which provide vital training in today’s highly technical and growing fields.
122,000: The number of long-term unemployed workers who could be put back to work in Virginia under the American Jobs Act. The President’s plan calls for sweeping changes to the unemployment insurance program to help those without jobs transition to the workplace.
13,500: The number of people looking for work in Virginia who will see their unemployment benefits protected under the American Jobs Act.
2,200 & 9,000: The number of adults and youths who would be provided opportunities to work and needed job training under the American Jobs Act “Pathways Back to Work Fund”.
$1,890: The average amount of the tax cut Virginia households will see under the American Jobs Act, thanks to a provision that will cut workers’ payroll taxes in half next year.
Tell Congress: Pass President Obama’s Jobs Bill Now!
If those numbers aren’t persuasive enough for you, here are a few more to illustrate how urgently we need this legislation:
10.7: The percentage of Virginians living in poverty
6.1%: Virginia’s July unemployment rate, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
138,100: Virginia jobs lost since April 2008.
Tell Congress: Pass President Obama’s Jobs Bill Now!
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