Rock the Vote Praises Passage of Economic Recovery Package, Urged by Thousands of Young Americans
Rock the Vote Executive Director Heather Smith issued the following statement praising the swift passage of President Obama’s economic recovery package, signed into law this week in Denver, Colorado.
Young adults voted in record numbers in 2008 motivated largely by a desire to elect political leaders who would tackle our economic crises with bold action. Now, as our country faces major challenges that require bold solutions, young adults are taking action to ensure our elected officials tackle the tough issues and move our country forward.
We congratulate the President and Congress for taking swift action on one of the most crucial issues facing our country, the decline of our economy. The economic recovery plan will have a significant impact on the lives of America’s 45 million 18-29 year olds – students, young workers, young families, the unemployed, and the uninsured – and put millions of Americans back to work.
Nearly 10,000 Rock the Vote members contacted their members of Congress urging them to pass the boldest recovery plan possible, one that would create millions of jobs, invest in clean energy, provide health care help to the unemployed, and strengthen student aid programs. The outpouring of action is no surprise given that Rock the Vote’s polling shows that the economy and jobs is the number one issue among young adults, followed closely by health care, education, and energy, all issues addressed in the economic plan.
“Of course, the recovery package is just the first step to solving our country’s economic woes, and just the first of many issues young adults will take action on in 2009 and beyond,” commented Smith. “From action on climate change to reforming our health care system, Rock the Vote is gearing up with our members and millions of young Americans nationwide to ensure the leaders we elected in 2008 continue to move toward solutions to the issues facing our country.”
About Rock the Vote
Rock the Vote’s mission is to engage and build the political power of young people in order to achieve progressive change in our country. Rock the Vote uses music, popular culture and new technologies to engage and incite young people to register and vote in every election. And we give young people the tools to identify, learn about, and take action on the issues that affect their lives, and leverage their power in the political process. Rock the Vote is creative, effective, and controlled by nobody’s agenda but our own – we tell it like it is and pride ourselves on being a trusted source for information on politics. We empower the 45 million young people in America who want to step up, claim their voice in the political process, and change the way politics is done. www.rockthevote.org