February 23, 2009

In an effort to lobby Congress to push for the final passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), a delegation of U.S. mayors returned to the nation’s capital on Wednesday, February 10, 2009 to meet on Capitol Hill with House Representative and Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (SC), and House Representative Chaka Fattah (PA), who also chairs the Congressional Urban Caucus and is a Member of the House Appropriations Committee. These meetings were a follow'up to the visits made a week earlier to the White House and Congress by mayors to push for passage of the ARRA.

At the meeting, the mayors stressed that investing in MainStreet metropolitan economies, which comprise 90% of our gross domestic product and drive the national economy, are the most direct path to creating jobs and stimulating the business that can begin to reverse the current economic downturn.

The nation’s mayors commended the Representatives on the work they have done with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which is in line with the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ priorities, and stressed that the nation’s mayors look forward to working with Congress to pass and implement this landmark legislation toward transforming our national economy for the 21st Century.

Trenton (NJ) Mayor Douglas H. Palmer

Akron (OH) Mayor Donald L. Plusquellic

Charleston (SC) Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr

Elizabeth (NJ) Mayor J. Christian Bollwage

Los Angeles (CA) Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa

Santa Ana (CA) Mayor Miguel A.Pulido

Philadelphia (PA) Mayor Michael Nutter

North Little Rock (AR) Mayor Patrick Henry Hays

Fresno (CA) Mayor Ashley Swearengin

Dearborn (MI) Mayor John O’Reilly, Jr.

San Jose (CA) Mayor Chuck Reed