The economic recovery bills passed by both houses of Congress will stimulate the economy while bringing crucial relief to a wide swath of Americans in need, and B’nai B’rith International (BBI) urges Congress to reconcile the two measures quickly and proceed to final passage.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will provide critical help to low income Americans in dire need. The assistance in unemployment benefits and food stamps, for instance, will help many families stave off immediate catastrophe. These measures also maintain consumer spending which in turn protects existing jobs.

“Each day brings more grim economic news,” said BBI Associate Executive Vice President Mark Olshan. “For millions of people, a strong economic stimulus package that delivers help quickly will mean the difference between making it, and falling through the cracks while the economy tries to recover.”

Some of the key issues in the $800 billion measure are:

Healthcare
BBI would like the final package to include a two-year increase in what is known as “FMAP,” which is the federal portion of the Medicaid program. Past experience with other temporary FMAP increases demonstrates that this not only helps low-income people get care, but preserves healthcare jobs, and avoids draconian cuts to public services in cash-strapped states. States receiving increased Medicaid funds through the recovery bill should be required to keep participation and benefit levels constant. B’nai B’rith also asks lawmakers to include in the final bill an extension of the existing moratorium on six new Medicaid regulations that would slash funding for those most in need.

Affordable Housing
Ensuring people have homes during this critical time needs to be a top priority. “We cannot forget about subsidized and affordable housing right now,” said BBI’s Director of Advocacy Rachel Goldberg. Several provisions would protect existing affordable housing and even create jobs. Buildings that house low-income elderly need the proposed $2.132 billion in project-based Section 8 money, which provides funds that subsidize rent. In addition, BBI would like some provisions to make existing subsidized housing more energy efficient. Such efforts would require construction work, which would have the added benefit of creating jobs. BBI also applauds the Senate’s proposed additional $2 billion for the low-income housing tax credit program, which is a bright spot in the future of affordable housing, now threatened by the collapse of the credit market.

There are other critical elements of the aging services safety net that need emergency funding, such as senior nutrition programs like Meals on Wheels. BBI supports the proposed $200 million now in emergency funding for such programs.

The final stimulus measure must encourage consumer spending, preserve and create jobs, and generate greater energy efficiency. B’nai B’rith urges the House and Senate to act quickly and with one voice.