TAMPA – “With today’s news about hundreds of thousands more Americans losing their jobs, we must redouble our efforts to pass the economic recovery package by President’s Day,” Congresswoman Kathy Castor said. “We must do everything we can to put people back to work as quickly as possible. Parents must be able to afford food for their children and health care for their families.”

January was an especially cruel month, with nearly 600,000 job losses, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The problem is particularly acute in Florida, where 752,000 people were jobless in December. In the Tampa Bay area, the unemployment rate hit a staggering 8.3 percent. Those numbers likely will rise given today’s news.

“Every day, we hear about more companies slashing jobs nationwide and in the Tampa Bay area,” Castor continued. “But our work on the economic recovery bill will go a long way to helping our families. We must join with President Obama, quickly pass this bill and avert further catastrophe.”

The economic recovery plan is expected to create or save 3 million to 4 million jobs Passed by the House last week, the recovery plans contains several measures aimed directly at creating more jobs and helping the unemployed. Those measures include:

* A $4.3 billion increase in health care money under Medicaid for Florida. That boost will increase the state’s ability to provide medical care. Economists say health care spending is one of the best ways to stimulate the economy.

* $2 billion for infrastructure improvements for Florida, which would create jobs for people building roads, schools and other projects.

* COBRA subsidies. Newly unemployed workers would receive a 65 percent subsidy for COBRA continuation premiums.

* An $879 million increase in food stamp benefits for Floridians. Economists say food stamps are one of the most effective ways of stimulating the economy by putting money in the hands of people who will spend it right away. One in 10 Floridians is on food stamps.