... In about 160 days, more than 30,000 Recovery Act projects - including community health center expansions, military facility upgrades, and transportation construction jobs - have already been approved.

35. The number of housing projects in the district that have received Recovery Act funds as of July 7.  Find a list here.

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Our entirely unscientific, just-for-fun Web site poll results are in for the month of May, and our online viewers overwhelmingly sided with universal health care for every American by a 72- to 28-percent margin.

Do you support a universal health care system that covers every American?

Results:

VOTE in our June poll right now!

For a extensive overview of the draft health care legislation released by the house, head here.
For a New York Times article discussing a recent, scientific poll of Americans − that said a staggering 85 percent of Americans believed our health care system needs to be fundamentally changed or rebuit − click here.

Here are a few of Congressman Rangel's most recent words on the matter:
"President Obama issued a call to action to reform our nation’s health care system and the House Committees have answered in an unprecedented way, working as one to produce a draft that will help control costs, preserve and expand coverage and strengthen Medicare and Medicaid. In the coming weeks, we will continue working with our colleagues and stakeholders to move this draft forward so we can create a new day in American health care that will benefit our nation for generations to come."

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In honor of Memorial Day, a quick tidbit of trivia: How many veterans are currently serving in the United States Congress?

121.

That's 96 in the House. In the Senate, 25.

Congressman Rangel, himself, is a decorated Korean War veteran and he joins Americans across the country in saluting our men and women in uniform, past and present. Happy Memorial Day.

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Our entirely unscientific, just-for-fun Web site poll results are in for the month of March/April, and our online viewers overwhelmingly sided with the President and his budget proposal by a 78- to 22-percent margin.

Question: Do you support President Obama's budget proposal?

Results:

VOTE in our May poll right now!

The President's budget, also known as H. Con. Res. 85, passed 233 to 196 on April 2.

You can read the Ways and Means press release here.
Here are a few of my words on the matter:

"President Obama united this nation behind the hope for a stronger economy and a brighter future and this budget puts our nation back on track. The House Budget Resolution answers President Obama’s call for action on critical issues such as health reform, middle-class tax relief and clean energy policies to fuel our economy in the 21stCentury. By approving this budget, we take a step toward making critical investments in our cities, towns, and in working families across this great nation."

Congressman Rangel, as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, held a hearing in that committee where Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geitner answered questions regarding President Obama's budget. Here are few words from the Congressman about it:

"President Obama’s budget lays out a responsible, straightforward roadmap to put our nation back on track to prosperity.   This Administration is ushering in a new era defined by core principles of strengthening economic security for America’s middle-class and making overdue investments in health care, education, and infrastructure to make our nation stronger.

“The budget also provides a framework for simplifying our tax laws to close loopholes and make the code leaner and stronger.  I have no doubt that this budget outline will spur vigorous discussion, but it is a discussion we cannot shy away from.  I look forward to working with President Obama to move forward in a bipartisan manner to simplify our tax laws and help our workers and companies remain competitive internationally.

“For too long, hardworking families have watched their wages, savings and hopes dwindle – and at the same time, they have watched the wealthiest among us grow wealthier.  This Administration knows that the middle-class is the backbone of our economy, and this budget makes an investment in their future to help them take home more from each paycheck to provide for their families and rekindle the American dream.  The budget makes good on our promise to provide permanent tax relief for 95 percent of working families to help them restore some of the economic peace-of-mind that has been lost in recent years.

“We are also paving the way for comprehensive health reform to expand coverage and address skyrocketing health costs that threatens access for those with insurance and prevents tens of millions of Americans from getting the care they need.  By strengthening existing programs, we can lay a foundation for reform to ensure that everyone has access to affordable care that meets their needs.  President Obama has been clear from the beginning that the challenges we face will require tough decisions and this budget further demonstrates the strength of his leadership to guide our nation through these difficult times.

“President Obama’s budget offers a clear vision for the future, and a clean break from irresponsible budget gimmicks of the past that hid the true cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, so that the American people can see clearly how their hard-earned tax dollars are spent.  I look forward to working with President Obama and Congressional leaders to make this vision a reality so that we can pick our nation up out of this recession and build a brighter future for all Americans.”

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Our entirely unscientific, just-for-fun Web site poll results are in for the month of February, and our online viewers overwhelmingly sided with Economic Recovery by a 63- to 38-percent margin.

Question: Do you support the Economic Recovery plan aimed at resolving the financial crisis?

Results:

VOTE in our March poll right now!

Funds from the Economic Recovery package have already started trickling down to the states, and its affects are already starting to take hold, saving jobs and creating jobs in education, energy, and infrastructure.

The following details the disbursement of these monies to New York, by department.

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Energy Efficiency, Green Jobs
Public Housing Capital Fund − $502,345,293
Native American Housing Block Grants − $267,2247
Lead Hazard Reduction − $2,038,081

Shovel-Ready Projects, Assisted-Housing Improvements
Tax Credit Assistance Program − $252,659,616
Project-Based Rental Assistance − $234,818,320
Community Development Block Grants − $92,423,904

Softening Crisis for Hardest-Hit Families
Homelessness Prevention Fund − $141,420,983

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Medicaid Fiscal Relief − Slighty over $2 billion

Community Health Centers − About $7 million, $1.3 million of which has gone to Ryan Community Health Center.

Senior Nutrition Programs
Congregate Meals Program − $4,148,718
Home-Delivered Meals Program − $6,191,164
Disproportionate Share Hospitals − $1.6 billion

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Repairing crumbling roads and bridges − $1.1 billion
Public Transportation − $1.2. billion.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Activities - $ 71.5 million
WIA Adult Activities - 31.5 million
WIA Dislocated Worker Activities - 66.4 million
Employment Services Grants - 22.9 million

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Title I - $906.2 million
Impact Aid Construction - $623.8 million
Educational Technology State Grants - $55.5 million
IDEA Part B Grant - $759.2 million
IDEA Part B Pre-school Grant - $35 million
IDEA Part C Grants for Infants and Families - $23.7 million
Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants -  $25.7 million
Independent Living State Grants - $856.9 thousand
Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind - $2.3 million
Federal Work-Study - $19.9 million
State Fiscal Stabilization Fund - $3 billion

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Law Enforcement - $67.3 million, of which $29 million went to New York City alone.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Clean Water State Revolving Fund - $436.9 million
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund - $86.8 million

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Stamp Benefits - Increase of 13.6 percent, or an average of $63 a month


For more information, all the recovery.gov sites follow:
www.hhs.gov/recovery
www.hud.gov/recovery
www.ed.gov/recovery
www.energy.gov/recovery
www.dot.gov/recovery
www.usdoj.gov/recovery
www.dol.gov/recovery
www.usda.gov/recovery
www.epa.gov/recovery
www.sba.gov/recovery
 

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Crumbling bridges and roads will soon be a thing of the past in America.

The White House announced today the numbers in the Recovery Act aimed at rebuilding this nation's infrastructure, separated by state. And states have 120 days to assign these funds to specific projects – or they will lose it. The money is reserved for critical repairs to our roads and bridges, so that tragedies like the 2007 bridge collapse in Minnesota can be avoided.

Find a listing of New York's planned highway projects here.
And keep up to date with the White House's Recovery.gov for detailed information on the Recovery plan.

Safer Roads and Bridges for New York
Total Infrastructure: $1,120,864,723
Transportation Enhancements: $33,620,542

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215,000. That's the number of jobs that – with the stroke of a pen today – were saved or created in New York alone, thanks to the signing into law of the Economic Recovery Package. 7,800 of those saved are in my very district.

Those are hundreds of thousands of lives, and families, and mortgages, and meals, and car payments, and medicines, we just safeguarded in the new year.

Other New York Numbers
$1,120,684,723 worth of safer, better roads and bridges.
$2,774,508,711 of total infrastructure monies.
461,816 pell grant recipients.
295,000 college tax credits.

Oh, one other significant number:
0, the number in the minority party who voted in favor of the recovery package.

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