House Democratic chiefs favor emergency jobs bill

February 15, 1983

The House Democratic leadership unanimously agreed to support a $4.3 billion emergency jobs program. House Speaker Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. said he hopes to send the plan to President Reagan within a couple of weeks. The bulk of the package includes money for labor-intensive jobs in repairing urban mass-transit systems, highways , and airports and improving soil conversation, flood control programs, and national parks. The plan adds an extra $2.9 billion for nine more months of unemployment benefits.