Today I voted for the modified rescue bill, and it was the toughest decision I have had to make yet as a legislator. As with the vote on Monday, I thought long and hard about the merits of the bill and could see both sides of the argument. Massive government action does not sound like the best answer to Wall Street's problems. However, America cannot afford inaction. Congress must act quickly to restore confidence in our lending markets, which are like the oil that lubricates our economy and keeps it moving.

I appreciate all of your input this past week. There have been many positive and negative opinions regarding this legislation, but ultimately I believe Congress acted rightly to save America's economy and way of life. Many important provisions were added to this bill to improve it. The FDIC insurance limit was raised, insurance for mortgage-backed securities was strengthened, and important tax revisions were made.

In the end, the danger that inaction posed to our economy was too great, and I believe this bill is an important step towards helping our economy and making sure this kind of disaster never happens again.