Dear Friend,
Thank you for reading another edition of my e-newsletter, the Carson Courier. For additional information on these and other topics, please visit my website at https://www.carson.house.gov.
In this week's Carson Courier:
Funding for Troops, Economic Recovery and The District
Jobs for Main Street Bill
North Central Graduate Named Rhodes Scholar
FUNDING FOR TROOPS, ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND THE DISTRICT
Last week my Democratic colleagues and I passed the Fiscal Year 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Act. As men and women in the Armed Forces are fighting everyday to defend our nation, we have a responsibility to provide them with all of the resources and tools they need to safely do their jobs.
This legislation will provide millions of dollars to Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) to fund cutting-edge research that will better prepare our troops and keep them safe during combat. The outcome of this research could lead to significant improvements in the way we treat battlefield wounds-potentially improving the quality of life for injured soldiers. As these funds reach our local campus, I am confident that the students and professors at IUPUI are immensely capable of solving these complex issues facing our military.
THE JOBS FOR MAIN STREET ACT
As your representative, my number one priority is rebuilding our economy and creating jobs in the 7th District. The Jobs for Main Street Act will provide much-needed relief to our families and make targeted investments to grow our economy over the long term.
This legislation will make targeted investments in small businesses and fund essential infrastructure projects like rebuilding crumbling roads and bridges, modernizing public buildings and cleaning our air and water. The Jobs For Main Street Act will also enable cash-strapped municipalities to keep the backbones of our communities-our police, teachers, and firefighters-on the job. States will be able to save or create 250,000 education jobs over the next two years and will be able to keep 5,000 law enforcement officers on the beat. In addition, the legislation would establish hiring and training programs to support 250,000 Americorps volunteers, 250,000 youth summer jobs and retrain 150,000 people to work in high growth industries.
This legislation also extends emergency relief like unemployment insurance to those hit hardest by the recession. In addition, the Jobs for Main Street Act adopts language that I proposed to extend health insurance benefits (known as COBRA) to the unemployed and recently laid off workers. Sixteen million American families will also benefit from a child tax credit. This legislation will improve our local economy by putting hard working Hoosiers back to work.
Growing our economy and creating jobs depends on smart, targeted investments. I recognize that it is irresponsible, however, to saddle the cost of today's government programs on our children and grandchildren. Therefore, the Jobs for Main Street Act will be paid for by redirecting TARP funds from Wall Street to Main Street.
NORTH CENTRAL GRADUATE NAMED RHODES SCHOLAR
I would like to sincerely congratulate Darryl W. Finkton Jr., a 2006 North Central graduate, who was recently awarded the prestigious Rhodes scholarship to study at Oxford University. Darryl is currently a senior, majoring in neurology, at Harvard University. While at Harvard, Darryl engaged in humanitarian pursuits abroad such as setting up a water supply system in Ghana and studying infant cognition in France. Darryl has excelled in-and-out of the classroom, receiving from the Indianapolis Star an honorable mention on the All-Marion County boys basketball team and playing basketball for Harvard. Darryl's outstanding dedication to humanitarian efforts, athletics and academic excellence makes the entire 7th District of Indiana proud. I commend Darryl W. Finkton Jr. for this outstanding accomplishment.
Thank you for reading the Carson Courier. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts and concerns. I value your views and your input which help me to better represent the people of Indiana's 7th District in Congress.