Willie Fort is working; the Recovery Act is working

At a National Press Club luncheon today, I described the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a program focused on results; it puts wages in people’s pockets; and it gives hope to struggling families and communities.  It is a lifeline for construction workers who have been especially hard hit by the downturn. 

 

You can view the speech courtesy of C-SPAN or read the text on our website.

I also spoke about Willie Fort.

Mr. Fort is a 32-year-old family man, with a wife and four young children. He's been doing construction work for about 12 years. Recently, he was about to get laid off from his current job near his home in central Mississippi. A layoff was not something he was used to dealing with. Then he learned about the $31 million highway project being built by Austin Bridge & Road just north of Shreveport, Louisiana. Mr. Fort put in for that job and was hired to oversee the concrete work. That is stimulus.

Now, this particular job is about four hours from home. But, Mr. Fort says it’s worth relocating temporarily, because this could mean two years of steady work. He'll return home every two weeks or so to visit his family.  It will be difficult, he knows, but it eases his concern about supporting his young family. Moreover, Mr. Fort says that, thanks to this job, he and his wife can move ahead with plans to buy a house back in Mississippi. That is stimulus.

This is what it’s all about. The thousands of men and women like Mr. Fort. The hundreds of companies like Austin Bridge & Road.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is working for Willie Fort; it's working for America.

Comments

[Sybil]

Wow! This is a great story and it's good to know that good family men like Willie Fort are able to continue supporting their families!

Nice to know that while Mr. Fort is supporting his family, he's also supporting the local economy in Shreveport too!

Thanks for sharing Willie's story.

[Mike Works]

It is a good story and example of this package working for America. Maybe next quarter we will start to see the economy move in an up direction.

[Clintion Ley]

Very nice story. Mr. Fort this is really an appericiation for you that along with giving proper time to your family you have continued your job as well. People like you set an example before society and work as an encouragement source for others.