The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) was signed into law by President Obama on February 17th, 2009. It is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. The Act is an extraordinary response to a crisis unlike any since the Great Depression, and includes measures to modernize our nation's infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need. Read the full bill here. (PDF, 13.4MB)

USDA was appropriated $28 billion (3.5 percent) of the package. The Act

• Provides $19.7 billion to increase the monthly amount of nutrition assistance to 31.8 million people.
• Enables expanded opportunities for broadband loans and grants to rural communities.
• Expands funding opportunities to develop water and waste facilities.
• Provides funding to protect and conserve the nation's forests and farm land.
• provides free technical assistance in the development of business adjustment plans to producers of raw agricultural commodities and fishermen who have been adversely affected by import competition.

To report fraud, waste, and abuse on Stimulus spending or fraud, waste, and abuse within any USDA programs or operations, please contact the OIG Hotline.

• USDA Weekly Report
• USDA's Plans (PDF)
• Farm Service Agency Recovery Effort
• FNS Recovery Efforts
• Foreign Agricultural Service Efforts
• NRCS Recovery Efforts
• OIG Recovery Efforts
• Rural Development Recovery Efforts