President Obama signed the economic stimulus package into law yesterday afternoon. Many people in the nation’s capital and state capitals around the country will be combing through it in the days and weeks ahead to understand the scope and breadth of what it does – and doesn’t – do.
At The Women’s Foundation, we wondered: What does this historic legislation do to help women and girls in our region preserve and even increase their economic security?
Nationally, according to the White House, the bill will create or save about 3.5 million jobs in the next year. The President’s economic advisors estimated (before he was inaugurated) that that about half of those jobs would go to women.
More locally, also according to the White House, the bill will create or save at least 12,000 jobs in the District of Columbia, 16,000 jobs in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties (Maryland), and 8,300 in Arlington and Fairfax Counties and the City of Alexandria (Northern Virginia).
If half of these jobs are held or filled by women, that means about 18,000 jobs saved or created for women in our region.
A quick look at some of the investments in economic security-related programs in the bill also gives us much to be hopeful about, including:
Investments in skills training. The new law adds nearly $3 billion to the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), which supports job training and other services, which, in our region, go primarily to women. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) estimates that $9.7 million of the funds will flow to the District of Columbia, $29 million to Maryland, and $32 million to Virginia.
Of the $3 billion, $500 million is for the WIA adult program, and the law requires states to give recipients of public assistance and other low-income individuals priority access to training. Many of those helped by this provision especially are likely to be women, particularly single women with children.
Increases for child care assistance. The new law adds $2 billion to the Child Care and Development Block Grant. The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) estimates that the District of Columbia will receive nearly $2.7 million of these funds, Maryland will receive $24 million, and Virginia will receive $37.9 million.
Improvements in the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program. Changes in the UI program are likely to increase significantly the number of women workers (as well as part-time and low-wage workers) eligible for benefits. The law also includes a $25 per week increase in UI benefits, which the National Employment Law Project (NELP) estimates will help more than 35,000 people in the District, 241,000 in Maryland and 247,000 in Virginia.
Expansion of programs to help trade-affected workers. The stimulus expands eligibility for the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program to service sector and public sector workers who lose their jobs as a result of trade and doubles the program’s funding for training. This could significantly increase the number of women who receive income support, training and other benefits through the program.
Funding for training and other services for women in highway construction. The law includes $20 million for training and related services to help women and minorities pursue careers in highway construction (through the US Department of Transportation).
Increase in funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly Food Stamps). The law adds $20 billion to increase benefits through 2013. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that this will help about 99,000 in the District, 412,000 in Maryland, and 594,000 in Virginia.
Taken together, these investments in the stimulus package are a sign of hope. Not only will they channel much-needed dollars into our region, but also they are an acknowledgement that our nation’s leaders recognize what we have known all along: Investments in women and girls are the best, fastest, surest way to ensure the economic stability of a family, a community and a nation.
Gwen Rubinstein is a program officer at The Women’s Foundation.
