Senate
"Stimulus Supplemental" Details Released (July 31, 2008)
Yesterday, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert
Byrd (D-WV) released the details of a new $24.1 billion domestic spending
measure. The package – characterized as a “stimulus
supplemental” – is intended to be a follow-up to the previously
enacted fiscal year 2008 war supplemental appropriations bill.
In a positive development for
The package also would provide $3.6 billion for highway
investments (dollars would be sent to all states via formula from the general
fund to improve deficient roads and bridges). Additionally, the measure
includes a provision that would transfer dollars from the general treasury to
the ailing Highway Trust Fund to keep it solvent through fiscal year
2009. The bill also includes $893 million for transit agencies to address
capital and operating needs to meet growing demands.
Other key details include:
·
$910 million for the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Forest
Service to fund firefighting, rehabilitation, and risk reduction programs.
·
$490 million for Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (to restore program
funding to fiscal year 2007 levels).
·
$100 million to help communities along the Southwest border fight drug
and gun crimes.
·
$300 million for competitive grants to county, city, state and tribal
governments for innovative energy efficiency and renewable-energy demonstration
projects.
·
$792 million in loans and grants for rural community facilities,
including hospitals, health clinics, health and safety vehicles and equipment,
public buildings, and child and elder facilities.
·
$250 million for employment and training activities for dislocated
workers.
·
$250 million to support part-time jobs after school, paid internships,
and community service jobs for older youth and to help low-income youth acquire
work skills.
·
$450 million for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program to
prevent more than 625,000 low-income families from losing benefits (and to
prevent states from creating waiting lists due to funding uncertainty).
·
$1.25 billion for an additional 2.9 million low-income households to
obtain energy assistance.
It should be noted that Chairman Byrd has indicated his
intention to move the stimulus-supplemental to the Senate floor sometime in
September.
Across Capitol Hill, Speaker Pelosi has expressed her
support for advancing a similar economic stimulus/supplemental spending measure
totaling at least $50 billion. House leaders have yet to release the
details of such a plan.
Joe
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Joe Krahn
Waterman & Associates
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(p) 202.898.1444
(f) 202.898-0188
jk@wafed.com