Mike Michaud represents Maine's Second District in the United States House of Representatives. This is a guest op-ed and the views expressed below are not necessarily endorsed by the Exception Magazine.

We all know our country is facing some challenging economic times right now. That’s why it’s so important to do everything we can to preserve the jobs we have and create new ones. There are many policy options on the table in Washington right now, and I’m hopeful that we can bridge the partisan divide and get something done fast. Our national economy and all those who are out of work can’t wait.

At the very least, we should make sure the big banks that got us into this mess, especially those that received billions through the Wall Street bailout, don’t further damage our economy. While part of this was addressed through the reforms of Wall Street, many of those new policies have still not been implemented.

Like many of you, I was disappointed when I recently read the news that Bank of America (BofA) plans to lay off an astonishing 30,000 people over the next few years. To say the least, this is disheartening, especially at a time when we can least afford more job losses as we try to rebuild our economy.

While BofA supplied few specifics in their announcement, it’s particularly concerning given the fact that they have a significant presence in a number of Maine communities. BofA employs hundreds of Mainers at three call centers in Brunswick, Belfast, and Orono. Additionally, they operate 34 banking centers throughout our state. Auburn, Lewiston, Bangor, Newport, Old Town, Portland, Waterville, and many other Maine communities have BofA branch locations.

I’m extremely concerned about the layoff announcement and what it could mean for Maine communities and workers. That’s why on October 3rd, I wrote a letter to Brian Moynihan, the CEO of Bank of America.

I wrote to Moynihan to ask that he consider the economic impact that these layoffs could have on Maine towns and families. As our fragile economy continues to recover, I told him that BofA should work to ensure that their actions have the smallest impact possible on our economy and do not fall entirely on one region or a handful of communities.

Mainers, as well as the economic health of their communities, depend on these jobs. I understand that BofA needs to take steps to maintain the financial health of their bank. But I told Moynihan that it’s equally important to recognize that they received substantial assistance from American taxpayers to get through the financial crisis. They now have an opportunity to repay the $45 billion they received through the bailout by taking every step possible to ensure that the restructuring of the bank does not disproportionally affect a particular state, region or community.

As BofA moves forward, I hope they will follow through on their pledge to eliminate the bulk of these jobs through attrition and the elimination of unfilled roles. But I want them to ensure that current employees understand how future cuts could affect them, their families, and their communities. Most importantly, I asked the CEO, in light of how generous this country has been to them, to not lose sight of the impact that layoffs could have on the economy in a particular area and factor that into their decision-making process.

I know that banks are in the money making business, but I think that they should do whatever they can to ensure that their bad decisions and flawed judgment don’t fall directly on the shoulders of the employees who depend on them for their livelihoods. Because it’s not just the bank’s employees who could be impacted, it’s entire communities, especially in rural states like Maine.