To the editor:
As Congress considers President Joe Biden's budget request for fiscal year 2024, the Jefferson County Democratic Party wants to remind county residents that the Democratic Congress passed, and Biden signed into law, about 300 bills that helped our county. Republicans voted against these.
In Jefferson County during the early years of COVID, the CARES Act provided money for personal protective equipment for our workers. In 2021, the stimulus bill provided money for many people across the county when businesses were closed and people could not work. It also gave a million dollars for a small business grant program of which $600,000 has been paid out.
The American Rescue Plan provided Jefferson County with $2.37 million dollars for between eight and 10 road slip repairs. Most of this has been allocated and some repairs are currently in progress -- and $50,000 has been put into a broadband feasibility study.
A million dollars has been set aside for renovation of the children's home on John Scott Highway. At the courthouse, money was used to fix the fire escape. And, money was used to digitize courthouse records, which will enable people to conduct their business from home.
I encourage everyone in the county to take note of these improvements and know that Democrats are committed to serving all people in Jefferson County.
The mission of the Jefferson County Democratic Party is to recruit, nominate, support and elect qualified Democratic candidates to public office. To that end, the party is committed to public and governmental policies that encourage, promote and advance the shared values, principles and traditions of our party.
Barbara Baird
Chair
Jefferson County
Democratic Party