After passing the Senate last week, the bill passed the House by a vote of 247–161 and now goes to the president for his signature.
The U.S. House of Representatives reconvened this week to take up the measure, which includes emergency aid to help states and territories keep teachers in classrooms and first responders on duty. It helps fill the holes in state and local tax revenues caused by the global recession.
The bill should save and create almost 320,000 jobs – including saving the jobs of 160,000 teachers and preventing the layoffs of tens of thousands of police officers, firefighters, and nurses, according to a statement from Delegate Donna Christensen.
Christensen said she and other territorial delegates worked together for a 30 percent Medicaid cap increase contained in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The House bill (HR 1586) extends that increase until the health care reform measures in the Patient Protection and Affordable Act take effect in the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2011.
“The lifting of the Medicaid cap will result in an additional $2.1 million in the second and third quarters of Fiscal Year 2011," Christensen said in her statement. "With regards to the education portion of the bill, it is projected by the U.S. Department of Education that the Virgin Islands could receive as much as $13 million for teacher retention.”
Although the territories and states will benefit financially during the upcoming year, the bill does not raise the federal deficit, she said.
“This bill is not only paid for, but will reduce the deficit by $1.4 billion dollars over 10 years and is just another example of Democrats being responsible with our country’s finances and responsive to the needs of our constituents,” said Christensen.
The legislation provides $10 billion to save more than 160,000 teacher jobs and $16.1 billion in health assistance to the states that, by reducing shortfalls and stimulating the economy, will save and create 158,000 jobs, including preventing the layoffs of police officers and firefighters, as well as creating private-sector jobs throughout our economy, according to Christensen.
