Dear Friends:

“What is required from members of Congress and the public alike is a new spirit of devotion to the national welfare beyond party or self-interest.”

So reflected my colleague Sen. Evan Bayh in his recent essay published in the New York Times. I stand with him in that fundamental spirit of community.

Last week, we saw a glimmer of hope in the successful bipartisan vote in the Senate for passage of the HIRE Act, a bill that has the potential to create and save over a million jobs by supporting private businesses and public agencies in making infrastructure investments. The Senate bill – which passed by a vote of 70-28 - contains provisions that both Republicans and Democrats support: a cut in payroll taxes for businesses that hire new workers; more liberal expensing rules for small business; and extending the Highway Trust Fund to create more jobs.

The real test of bipartisanship will come in the months ahead as Congress deals with additional initiatives designed to put Americans back to work. Senate Democrats are focused on the next phase of our bipartisan jobs agenda which includes extending critical tax relief and safety net programs for American workers, states and businesses.

The recent obstruction by Republican Senator Jim Bunning has made the last week a time of great uncertainty for tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians who count on such programs to make ends meet. I am pleased that the stalemate ended and, on Tuesday, the Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill to extend long term unemployment insurance and COBRA benefits to help America’s unemployed workers support their families through these difficult times.

With America’s economy showing signs of recovery, I will continue to support these efforts that will encourage businesses to hire more workers and strengthen the economy.  As always, I want to hear from you on this and any other issue. Please contact me through any one of my nine offices located throughout the state and in Washington, or through my website. 

Sincerely, 

Arlen Specter