FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                         

Thursday, January 15, 2009                                                                                         

CONTACT: Alexis Marks

(202) 225-7163

Rep. Doris Matsui Statement on Draft of Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Plan

Federal Funding to Assist Local Projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. -Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-05) released the following statement regarding the draft of the Economic Recovery and Reinvestment plan that was released today:

"It is no secret that our economy is in serious trouble.  I have talked to countless numbers of Sacramentans who are struggling to make ends meet and are facing layoffs, furloughs, foreclosure, unpaid medical bills, and a lack of support to help them in this crucial time.

"That is why I have been working with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that we pass a robust economic recovery package that puts real Federal dollars into a wide variety of programs to help Sacramentans - and people across the country - get back to work and back on track.

"While this legislation will continue to change as we evaluate the nation's priorities, I am encouraged with the initial federal funding figures released today by the House Appropriations Committee.  This package includes a historic investment in clean technology, transportation infrastructure, flood protection and our children's education.  Congress also understands the need to assist our states in these difficult times - therefore this package includes unemployment and Medicaid aid.

"I will fight to direct funding toward important priorities in our city and region, such as strengthening levees on the Sacramento and American Rivers, much needed renovations at Sacramento State and in our local schools, light rail and bus investments for RT, and improvements to SMUD's electric grid.  We also have progress to be made on the downtown intermodal station, the accompanying relocation of the downtown rail lines, as well as numerous road projects which may benefit from this package."

Highlights of the preliminary package are:

Modernize Roads, Bridges, Transit and Waterways

•·        $30 billion for highway construction;

•·        $31 billion to modernize federal and other public infrastructure with investments that lead to long term energy cost savings

•·        $10 billion for transit and rail to reduce traffic congestion and gas consumption.

•·        This includes $1 billion for Capital Investment Grants for new light rail systems, $2 billion to modernize existing transit systems and $6 billion to purchase buses and improve intermodal and transit facilities. 

Flood Protection and Water Projects

•·        $19 billion for clean water, flood control, and environmental restoration investments.

•·        This includes $4.5 billion to the Corps of Engineers for flood protection and other projects.

Clean, Efficient, American Energy

•·        $32 billion to transform the nation's energy transmission, distribution, and production systems by allowing for a smarter and better grid and focusing investment in renewable technology.

•·        $16 billion to repair public housing and make key energy efficiency retrofits.

•·        $6 billion to weatherize modest-income homes.

Education for the 21^st Century:

•·        $41 billion to local school districts through Title I ($13 billion), IDEA ($13 billion), a new School Modernization and Repair Program ($14 billion), and the Education Technology program ($1 billion).

•·        $79 billion in state fiscal relief to prevent cutbacks to key services, including $39 billion to local school districts and public colleges and universities distributed through existing state and federal formulas, $15 billion to states as bonus grants as a reward for meeting key performance measures, and $25 billion to states for other high priority needs such as public safety and other critical services, which may include education.

•·        $15.6 billion to increase the Pell grant by $500.

•·        $6 billion for higher education modernization.

Lower Healthcare Costs

•·        $20 billion for health information technology to prevent medical mistakes, provide better care to patients and introduce cost-saving efficiencies.

•·        $4.1 billion to provide for preventative care and to evaluate the most effective healthcare treatments.

Help Workers Hurt by the Economy

•·        $43 billion for increased unemployment benefits and job training. 

•·        $39 billion to support those who lose their jobs by helping them to pay the cost of keeping their employer provided healthcare under COBRA and providing short-term options to be covered by Medicaid.

•·        $20 billion to increase the food stamp benefit by over 13% in order to help defray rising food costs. 

Relief to State and Protect Vital Services

•·        $87 billion for a temporary increase in the Medicaid matching rate.

•·        $4 billion for state and local law enforcement funding.

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