Few issues are more important to Arizonans than the dire state of our nation’s economy. The hard-working men and women I represent want action – they want their federal government to do what is necessary to create jobs, help small businesses and lay the groundwork for long-term prosperity.

These are the bottom-line reasons for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. I supported this bill, and President Obama signed it into law because we recognize that bold action is needed. America has lost 3.6 million jobs since November 2007 – one of the largest 13-month job losses in our history.

Standing by and doing nothing is not an option as retirement accounts dwindle, families lose health care and venerable American companies file for bankruptcy protection.

Make no mistake, the economic challenges confronting us constitute a crisis the likes of which we have not seen for a generation or more. Economists across the ideological spectrum say it could get worse before it gets better. The legislation passed by clear majorities in the House and Senate is a critical first step to regaining our economic health.

It is equally important to remember that the recession that now has our economy in its grip was not a lightning strike out of the blue. It is the result of years of flawed economic policies and reckless decisions. Dealing with the recession and a record national debt will test the leadership skills of every federal elected representative. This is not a time for partisan politics or sitting on the sidelines.

Anyone who doubts this should speak to the business leaders, mayors, homeowners, and college students who have attended the public forums I held on the economic recovery legislation. They want help, and they want us to work together to solve problems.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is not a perfect bill, but it has been carefully crafted to have the targeted and timely impact we need. For Arizona, this bill is intended to create or save 70,000 jobs over two years, cut taxes for 2 million workers and their families, give 75,000 families a new $2,500 college tax credit, expand unemployment insurance for 200,000 jobless workers, and provide funding to modernize at least 193 schools.

Particularly important are the bill’s provisions to make us more globally competitive through strategic investments in science and technology. These investments will have a profound impact on Arizona’s young but vibrant renewable energy industry. Thanks to our abundant sunshine and entrepreneurial spirit, we are poised to become a national leader in solar energy research, development, manufacturing and utilization.

Nationally, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will help reach these goals by: doubling renewable energy generating capacity over three years; creating enough renewable energy to power 6 million homes; establishing a new loan-guarantee program to keep our transition to renewable energy on track; and providing tens of billions of dollars in competitive grant funding for energy efficiency and renewable-energy research and projects.

These investments represent a forward-thinking down payment on our future.

Arizonans are a resilient, creative and determined people. These characteristics allowed our ancestors to transform the desert Southwest into the second-fastest-growing state in the country. The same characteristics will enable us to emerge from this economic crisis stronger than ever.

Gabrielle Giffords – Feb. 23, 2009