Politics

Roadmap to Recovery

By Karina

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed into law just over 100 days ago, has created or saved over 150,000 jobs, cut taxes for 95 percent of working families and made funds available for over 4,000 transportation projects that put people back to work. Today, President Obama and Vice President Biden announced the Roadmap to Recovery initiative — an effort to accelerate the implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to create or save 600,000 jobs in the next 100 days, four times the number of jobs created or saved in the first 100 days.

Speaker Pelosi:

There is still a long way to go, but the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is beginning to help communities and businesses across the country save jobs and put people back to work, while making critical investments in technology and infrastructure to build the foundation of our economic recovery. It is essential to changing our economic course and creating jobs here in America.

Ninety-five percent of American workers are already seeing a tax cut in their paychecks and seniors and disabled veterans are getting Recovery Payments. Now, with the Roadmap to Recovery, Congress and the Obama Administration will accelerate the pace of recovery with 10 specific nationwide commitments for the next 100 days.

We will not rest in our efforts to strengthen our economy until Americans are back to work and we have restored the American dream for many more families. Congress will continue to work with the Administration to get recovery dollars to the places where they will make the most difference, while ensuring strict accountability and transparency.

Congress will also pass major legislation critical to our economy: a clean energy bill and health care reform. Clean energy will create millions of new jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and health care reform will reduce skyrocketing costs for American families and businesses. Working hand in hand with President Obama, we are providing the tools needed to create jobs now and build prosperity for generations to come.

The Roadmap to Recovery highlights ten of the ways we will be able to see the Recovery Act in action across the country in the next 100 days:

Enable 1,129 Health Centers in 50 States and 8 Territories to Provide Expanded Service to Approximately 300,000 Patients
This HHS program will create jobs and support health center efforts to improve access to quality, comprehensive, and affordable care.

Begin Work on Rehabilitation and Improvement Projects at 98 Airports and Over 1,500 Highway Locations Throughout the Country
Projects will include runway construction at selected airports to increase capacity, and interstate repaving projects to reduce bottlenecks and congestion.

Fund 135,000 Education Jobs Including Teachers, Principals and Support Staff
The Recovery Act funds will help to keep outstanding teachers in America?s schools and help with necessary reforms to ensure that every child in America can receive a complete and competitive education.

Begin Improvements at 90 Veterans Medical Centers Across 38 States
Upgrading existing Veterans Medical Centers will increase the quality of the facilities to deliver the care our soldiers deserve.

Hire or Keep on the Job Approximately 5,000 Law Enforcement Officers
These funds will be used to hire new officers while also retaining our veteran force.

Start 200 New Waste and Water Systems in Rural America
These projects will replace outdated water mains and build waste-water treatment facilities for small communities.

Begin Work on 107 National Parks
Through these projects, we will preserve the National Park System, and launch long overdue projects.

Begin or Accelerate Cleanup Work at 20 Superfund Sites from the National Priority List
Superfund work will boost local economies by creating and maintaining jobs while also protecting human health and the environment.

Create 125,000 Summer Youth Jobs
Empowering our young people through meaningful summer employment will keep them off the streets and provide them with valuable work experience.

Initiate 2,300 Construction and Rehabilitation Projects at 359 Military Facilities Across the Nation
Department of Defense projects will improve personnel living quarters and install green technologies throughout the country for the United States Military.

Full post as published by The Gavel on June 08, 2009 (boomark / email).