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ShareThe American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009
In February 2009, the U.S. Senate with my support passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), to revive our struggling economy by addressing several long-standing needs throughout the country.
During the development of this crucial legislation, I worked with my colleagues to develop a recovery plan that was truly stimulative, with a set of specific guidelines and benchmarks for economic renewal. As a result, Virginia has received more than $9 billion to help maintain government services, invest in infrastructure, improve public facilities, and create or save more than 93,000 jobs in a range of industries.
The ARRA also included tax cuts for families and businesses, provisions to help unemployed Americans keep their health care benefits, and additional assistance for Social Security beneficiaries.
I invite you to visit the map on my website that charts ARRA projects geographically across the Commonwealth.
To read a selection of new coverage on Recovery Act projects, please click here.
Infrastructure
Because Virginia highways and interstates are some of the most traveled in the nation, the Commonwealth has already received $478.4 million to support shovel-ready infrastructure projects from the most rural areas to major arteries around the Capital Beltway.
More than $200 million in funding has been dedicated to mass-transit projects. Funds will be spent on a wide range of public transit investments including heavy rail, commuter rail, light rail, trolleybus, cable car, ferryboats, and high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lanes.
Water Resources
Recognizing the importance of Virginia’s waterways, reservoirs, and lakes, the Army Corps of Engineers awarded nearly $34 million in contracts for a range of projects including the Flanagan Dam and Reservoir and waste and water disposal plans in Norton and Wythe County. These investments in water resources will not only create jobs, but they will provide much-needed maintenance to essential water resources and recreational waterways.
Tourism and Historic Sites
Virginia is fortunate to have both a rich history and numerous natural sites that attract tourism and provide extensive recreational activities for people of all ages to enjoy. As part of the ARRA, the National Park Service has invested more than $27 million in thirty-seven projects at key landmarks in the Shenandoah Valley and throughout Virginia. The funds will extend hiking trails, preserve our Civil and Revolutionary War battlefields, provide long-delayed maintenance to national parks, and promote energy efficiency at historic sites. More importantly, the funding will promote ecotourism and create new jobs in this growing field.
Law Enforcement
During an economic downturn, community services can be strained with tighter budgets. Faced with the possibility of taking police off the street, the Department of Justice directed nearly $40 million in funding to Virginia’s local sheriffs and police departments and state criminal justice programs. Additional funds have been made available from the Department of Agriculture for communities to purchase law enforcement vehicles in rural communities.
Health Care
As a health care safety net, community health centers have seen an increase in patients who lack health insurance, placing stress on both staff and services. To ease this burden, the ARRA directed $5.7 million to fund 5 new community heath centers to serve an estimated 24,390 patients and create 180 jobs. 24 existing community health centers throughout Virginia received more than $5.2 million in order to save 91 jobs and continue to provide affordable health care to inner-city and rural communities.
The ARRA also dedicated $2.3 million in nutrition assistance funds to provide meals for older Virginians adversely impacted by rising food costs. A number of Virginia Redevelopment & Housing Authorities also received $51 million to address much-needed improvements to public housing units, create jobs and reduce energy costs.
As we move forward together in this economic recovery effort, I am committed to protecting Virginia’s taxpayers and advocating for policies that will create jobs and ensure accountability in government.
During the development of this crucial legislation, I worked with my colleagues to develop a recovery plan that was truly stimulative, with a set of specific guidelines and benchmarks for economic renewal. As a result, Virginia has received more than $9 billion to help maintain government services, invest in infrastructure, improve public facilities, and create or save more than 93,000 jobs in a range of industries.
The ARRA also included tax cuts for families and businesses, provisions to help unemployed Americans keep their health care benefits, and additional assistance for Social Security beneficiaries.
I invite you to visit the map on my website that charts ARRA projects geographically across the Commonwealth.
To read a selection of new coverage on Recovery Act projects, please click here.
Infrastructure
Because Virginia highways and interstates are some of the most traveled in the nation, the Commonwealth has already received $478.4 million to support shovel-ready infrastructure projects from the most rural areas to major arteries around the Capital Beltway.
More than $200 million in funding has been dedicated to mass-transit projects. Funds will be spent on a wide range of public transit investments including heavy rail, commuter rail, light rail, trolleybus, cable car, ferryboats, and high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lanes.
Water Resources
Recognizing the importance of Virginia’s waterways, reservoirs, and lakes, the Army Corps of Engineers awarded nearly $34 million in contracts for a range of projects including the Flanagan Dam and Reservoir and waste and water disposal plans in Norton and Wythe County. These investments in water resources will not only create jobs, but they will provide much-needed maintenance to essential water resources and recreational waterways.
Tourism and Historic Sites
Virginia is fortunate to have both a rich history and numerous natural sites that attract tourism and provide extensive recreational activities for people of all ages to enjoy. As part of the ARRA, the National Park Service has invested more than $27 million in thirty-seven projects at key landmarks in the Shenandoah Valley and throughout Virginia. The funds will extend hiking trails, preserve our Civil and Revolutionary War battlefields, provide long-delayed maintenance to national parks, and promote energy efficiency at historic sites. More importantly, the funding will promote ecotourism and create new jobs in this growing field.
Law Enforcement
During an economic downturn, community services can be strained with tighter budgets. Faced with the possibility of taking police off the street, the Department of Justice directed nearly $40 million in funding to Virginia’s local sheriffs and police departments and state criminal justice programs. Additional funds have been made available from the Department of Agriculture for communities to purchase law enforcement vehicles in rural communities.
Health Care
As a health care safety net, community health centers have seen an increase in patients who lack health insurance, placing stress on both staff and services. To ease this burden, the ARRA directed $5.7 million to fund 5 new community heath centers to serve an estimated 24,390 patients and create 180 jobs. 24 existing community health centers throughout Virginia received more than $5.2 million in order to save 91 jobs and continue to provide affordable health care to inner-city and rural communities.
The ARRA also dedicated $2.3 million in nutrition assistance funds to provide meals for older Virginians adversely impacted by rising food costs. A number of Virginia Redevelopment & Housing Authorities also received $51 million to address much-needed improvements to public housing units, create jobs and reduce energy costs.
As we move forward together in this economic recovery effort, I am committed to protecting Virginia’s taxpayers and advocating for policies that will create jobs and ensure accountability in government.