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Congressman Garamendi Vote Further Assists Travis AFB, Creates New Jobs by Investing in Housing & Transportation

July 30, 2010

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman John Garamendi (D-Walnut Creek, CA) last night voted to create new jobs and boost our economic recovery with investments in roads, bridges and homes. Congressman Garamendi is also pleased to report that the bill includes a $750,000 earmark he requested for Travis Air Force Base’s North Gate to improve access to and from Solano County’s largest employer.

"This bill is good for Travis, good for California, and good for America," Congressman Garamendi said. "We’re making sure that Solano County’s largest employer is accessible to its thousands of employees, and we are investing in essential housing and transportation projects that will help put breadwinners in struggling families back to work. In this economy, ‘no more investment’ is not an option."

The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act for FY 2011 will provide help for Americans who have been hurt by the recession over the short-term, as well as strengthen our economy over the long-term by making key investments in improving our infrastructure.

Investments in the bill will create more than 160,000 new jobs. The legislation will address the challenges of keeping our transportation system safe, secure and up-to-date. To increase Americans’ use of public transportation and help wean us off of our addiction to foreign oil, we invest in the next generation of high-speed passenger rail and new commuter rail and light rail systems.

"We know that for every $1 invested in infrastructure improvements, $1.57 is returned to our GDP," Congressman Garamendi added. "In an economic downturn, almost every economist agrees that we must invest in projects that create jobs. Rebuilding and modernizing our roads, public transit and railways is a vital step in that process."

To ensure that all Americans have access to housing and shelter as the economy regains strength, the bill increases funding for rental vouchers and housing assistance for some of the neediest Americans – the disabled, the elderly, and homeless veterans. It funds the first year of the implementation of the HEARTH Act, which seeks to end homelessness in America. It also invests in measures to help families who are at risk of foreclosure stay in their homes and weather the mortgage crisis.

In order to spur economic development in vacant urban commercial and industrial sites, the bill invests in grant programs that revitalize neighborhoods and turn deserted areas into commercial destinations. The legislation also encourages sustainable practices in local housing, transportation, and energy planning that will utilize dollars more effectively and create more livable communities for all.

"Residents in Antioch, Fairfield, and throughout the 10th Congressional District are facing the ravages of a housing market gone terribly wrong," Garamendi continued. "There are many hardworking families who, for the first time in their lives, are facing a serious risk of homelessness. We must do something about this growing problem, and this legislation provides significant relief."