Understanding H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

On February 17, 2009, the President signed H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law (Public Law No: 111-5).  This legislation is one of many critical, federal responses to a severe, economic crisis.  This webpage is intended to provide constituents with the most frequent updates about ARRA and its implementation.

On March 11, 2009, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that every state in the country has higher over-the-month unemployment rates than this time last year.  While the national unemployment rate increased to 7.6 percent in January, the Georgia’s estimate unemployment is 8.6 percent.  On February 17, 2009, the White House released a preliminary estimate that this legislation will create or save 7,900 in the 5th Congressional District of Georgia.

Three House Committees led Congress in developing this legislation. 

• The House Appropriations Committee
  Summary of the Appropriations Committee Provisions: Overall Federal Funding
  
• The House Ways and Means Committee
  Summary of the Ways and Means Committee Provisions: Tax, Unemployment, and Health Insurance
  
• The House Energy and Commerce Committee
  Summary of Energy and Commerce Provisions: Health Care, Broadband, and Energy

Federal funding included in ARRA is primarily in the form of formula or block grants to state governments.  These grants are structured in direct disbursement of funds based on specific guidelines.  For information on formula and block grants, please visit the administration and Georgia State government’s websites.

The legislation also includes some discretionary grants that are awarded on a competitive application process.  In these cases, the respective federal agency makes an announcement through Grants.gov (and in certain cases the Federal Register) detailing the application process.  The respective federal agency then reviews applications and awards grants based on the merits of the request and its compliance with grant guidelines.

State of Georgia’s ARRA Website: http://stimulusaccountability.georgia.gov.

Federal Government’s ARRA Website: www.recovery.gov (White House)

Federal assistance under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) includes grants-in-aid to state and local governments. Agency Recovery Sites links to information about federal agency and department programs. State Recover Sites cover state projects and state contacts for grants programs. The United States Conference of Mayors Main Street Economic Recovery website gives State Breakdown of ARRA and Key Program Summaries. The National Conference of State Legislatures webpage Economic Stimulus 2009 provides Resources on Components in the Stimulus Package.

The Administration will announce ARRA discretionary and competitive grant announcements on www.grants.gov : 
Search these announcements here:  www.grants.gov.

List of federal agency’s recovery web pages:

• Department of State : 
• Department of Treasury : 
• Department of Defense : 
• Department of Justice : 
• Department of Interior : 
• Department of Agriculture : 
• Department of Commerce : 
• Department of Labor : 
• Department of Health and Human Services : 
• Department of Housing and Urban Development : 
• Department of Transportation : 
• Department of Energy : 
• Department of Education : 
• Department of Veterans Affairs' : 
• Department of Homeland Security : 
• Environmental Protection Agency : 
• Office of Management and Budget : 

State of Georgia’s  ARRA Allocations

• Unemployment 
• March 24, 2009: REP. FUDGE ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF $100 MILLION IN TRANSIT GRANTS