Honolulu, Hawaii -- U.S. Representative Neil Abercrombie today warned that Hawaii is risking the loss of millions of dollars in federal funding because the state administration has failed to implement the economic recovery act passed by Congress and signed by the President earlier this year.

“It’s unconscionable that the state administration has stood frozen in place and done nothing to leverage federal highway money from the economic recovery act to put people in Hawaii back to work and to revitalize the local economy,” Abercrombie said. “The money is there, waiting for the state to move, but absolutely nothing is happening. As a result, the state is running the risk of losing everything it’s due to other states that have taken action and are doing something to get their economy moving.”

“The chairman of the House Transportation Committee, James Oberstar, has placed the state on notice for its absolute failure. In fact, he points out that Hawaii is next to last in the nation when it comes to using its economic recovery funds for transportation. Progress reports show that more than $125.7 million in recovery act funds has been allocated to Hawaii, but none of that has resulted in a project getting off the ground. The state’s performance is horrifying, in light of these economic times.”

In an August 6, 2009 letter to Governor Lingle, Oberstar writes that over the past five months, “almost all States have moved forward aggressively to use the highway funds provided under the Recovery Act to create and sustain family-wage jobs, contribute to our nation’s long-term economic growth, and help the United States recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression.

“Regrettably, Hawaii is not among these States. Based on progress reports submitted to the Committee in July 2009, Hawaii is falling far behind other States in putting to work its Recovery Act highway formula funds. According to submissions received from all States and the District of Columbia, your State ranks 50 out of 51, based on an analysis of the percentage of Recovery Act highway formula funds put to bid, under contract, and underway. As of June 30, Hawaii had begun construction of projects totaling zero percent of the State’s funding.”

Oberstar concluded his letter by urging Governor Lingle to “refocus your efforts to implement the Recovery Act and use the available funds to create and sustain family-wage jobs.”

“I join Chairman Oberstar in urging Governor Lingle to take action that will create jobs and tax revenue for the state which are critical to the economic growth of Hawaii and the nation,” said Abercrombie.

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