Vice President Joe Biden today announced nine new targets for Recovery Act progress through the end of 2009. The nine spotlighted targets are just a few of the many objectives set for Federal agencies implementing the Recovery Act during the final 90 days of 2009. Included in the announcement was a new Administration-wide goal of obligating 60 percent of the CBO estimated $499 billion in spending under the Recovery Act by December 31, 2009.
"We’ve made great progress in the first seven months of Recovery Act implementation in 2009 – now we want to finish the year even stronger," said Vice President Biden. "We want to continue to be ahead of schedule on key metrics, doing all we can to create and save jobs, and building a lasting economic platform for our country."
Vice President Biden last set Recovery Act targets in early June as part of the Recovery Roadmap for the second 100 days of the Recovery Act. At the 200 day mark, he announced that every goal set as part of that effort had been met – and, in many cases, exceeded.
The year-end goals for the Recovery Act (targets to be met by December 31, 2009) that the Vice President announced were:
Batteries for Vehicle Electrification: By the end of the year, the Department of Energy will have put in place funding for battery manufacturing plants that can power 400,000 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, each year.
Military Hospitals: The Department of Defense will begin 34 construction and modernization projects at hospitals and medical centers throughout the country over the next 90 days, for a total of 65 hospitals and medical centers with projects under construction since passage of the Act.
National Parks: The Department of Interior will begin on-site construction improvement work in 105 more national parks throughout the country over the next 90 days.
Small Business Assistance: The Small Business Administration will provide and leverage $5 billion in capital to over 12,000 small businesses through two key lending programs (7a and 504) in the next 90 days.
Fuel Efficient Bus Purchases: By the end of the year, the Federal Transit Agency will have awarded enough grants to enable the purchase of approximately 10,000 new transit vehicles across the country.
Housing Loans and Rehabilitation: By the end of the year, the Department of Agriculture and the Housing and Urban Development Department will have provided housing loans and capital funding to finance, build, or renovate over 100,000 households across America.
Renewable Energy: By the end of the year, the Departments of Energy and Treasury will help fund renewable energy projects that will generate enough alternative energy to power 900,000 homes in the United States once completed.
Road Projects: By the end of the year, the Department of Transportation will have obligated enough funds to support 10,000 highway projects.
The Recovery Act was signed into law on February 17, 2009 as the country faced the greatest economic crisis in a generation. The Act was designed to create jobs and drive economic growth through a combination of tax relief for individuals and businesses, aid to hard-hit families and state and local governments and funding for science, technology and infrastructure projects across the country. The Council of Economic Advisors estimates that the Recovery Act is responsible for approximately 1 million jobs so far.
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Showing posts with label joe biden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label joe biden. Show all posts
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Biden Admits "Stimulus" Spending Scheme Is Falling Short, Says Dems "Misread the Economy"
Washington Democrats are officially all over the map on the spending binge known as the “stimulus.” Vice President Joe Biden was one of many Democrats scrambling over the weekend to defend the trillion-dollar “stimulus” that, by any objective account, isn’t working. The Obama Administration’s latest excuse for the bill’s poor returns? On ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos, the Vice President claimed, “The truth is, we and everyone else misread the economy.”
This change in rhetoric comes less than two months after the Vice President issued his initial report on the “stimulus,” in which he said the package was “ahead of schedule.”
Here’s another example of Democrats’ mixed messages on wasteful stimulus spending:
Yesterday on ABC, the Vice President asserted, “There were predictions that this was going to be wasteful and all these terrible projects were going to be out there, and we’re wasting money. Well, that dog hasn’t barked yet.”
Yet just last month, in a roundtable to discuss the “success” of the stimulus, the Vice President admitted, “We know some of this money is going to be wasted… Some people are being scammed already.”
The “dog” to which the Vice President referred is now barking, and her name is Ellie Mae, the bloodhound House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) sent out looking for jobs created by the “stimulus” in a lighthearted web video released last week. In an appearance yesterday on Fox News Sunday, Boehner underscored the fact that the “stimulus” bill isn’t working and reiterated Republicans’ support for a real stimulus – one that empowers families and small businesses to keep more of what they earn so they can save, invest, and create jobs:
“This was supposed to be about jobs, jobs, and jobs and the fact is it turned into nothing but spending, spending and more spending on a lot of big government bureaucracy… All it does is fund more government. If you really want to get the economy going, you have to trust small businesses and the American people to reinvest their own money. So we ought to try a real stimulus bill and allow them to keep more of what they earn.”
As the “stimulus” continues to fall short of its goals, how will Democrats try to move the goalposts next? What rhetoric will they use to backtrack off of previous predictions and statements? And, most importantly, how hard will Democrats continue to block a real stimulus that trusts small businesses – the real engine of our economy – to create jobs? As Congress prepares to begin a busy stretch of legislative action over the next four weeks and unemployment continues to rise, these are questions the American people need answered.
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This change in rhetoric comes less than two months after the Vice President issued his initial report on the “stimulus,” in which he said the package was “ahead of schedule.”
Here’s another example of Democrats’ mixed messages on wasteful stimulus spending:
Yesterday on ABC, the Vice President asserted, “There were predictions that this was going to be wasteful and all these terrible projects were going to be out there, and we’re wasting money. Well, that dog hasn’t barked yet.”
Yet just last month, in a roundtable to discuss the “success” of the stimulus, the Vice President admitted, “We know some of this money is going to be wasted… Some people are being scammed already.”
The “dog” to which the Vice President referred is now barking, and her name is Ellie Mae, the bloodhound House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) sent out looking for jobs created by the “stimulus” in a lighthearted web video released last week. In an appearance yesterday on Fox News Sunday, Boehner underscored the fact that the “stimulus” bill isn’t working and reiterated Republicans’ support for a real stimulus – one that empowers families and small businesses to keep more of what they earn so they can save, invest, and create jobs:
“This was supposed to be about jobs, jobs, and jobs and the fact is it turned into nothing but spending, spending and more spending on a lot of big government bureaucracy… All it does is fund more government. If you really want to get the economy going, you have to trust small businesses and the American people to reinvest their own money. So we ought to try a real stimulus bill and allow them to keep more of what they earn.”
As the “stimulus” continues to fall short of its goals, how will Democrats try to move the goalposts next? What rhetoric will they use to backtrack off of previous predictions and statements? And, most importantly, how hard will Democrats continue to block a real stimulus that trusts small businesses – the real engine of our economy – to create jobs? As Congress prepares to begin a busy stretch of legislative action over the next four weeks and unemployment continues to rise, these are questions the American people need answered.
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Wednesday, April 22, 2009
On Earth Day Vice President Biden Announces $300 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Clean Cities Program
During a visit to the WMATA Carmen Turner Maintenance and Training Facility in Landover, MD, Vice President Joe Biden today announced $300 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for state and local governments, and transit authorities to expand the nation’s fleet of clean, sustainable vehicles and the fueling infrastructure necessary to support them.
"For city and state governments across this country, every day is Earth Day thanks to the ambitious commitments they are making to green their vehicles and transit systems. Now it’s time for Washington to help them deliver on those promises," said Vice President Biden. "From advanced battery cars to hybrid-electric city buses, we’re going put Recovery Act dollars to work deploying cleaner, greener vehicles in cities and towns across the nation that will cut costs, reduce pollution and create the jobs that will drive our economic recovery."
The Clean Cities Alternative Fuel and Advanced Technology Vehicles Pilot Program will speed the transformation of our nation’s vehicle fleet, help to reduce carbon emissions and increase energy security by helping reduce U.S. dependence to foreign oil. This funding adds to the $11 billion already announced by the Department of Energy to bolster state and local government energy efficiency programs and weatherize low-income homes.
"These funds will give local and state governments the tools to expand the use of advanced technology vehicles in their fleets while at the same time building the infrastructure needed for tomorrow’s clean economy," said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. "This program represents another step toward freeing America from its reliance on foreign oil and lessening our emissions that contribute to global climate change."
Vice President Biden was joined at the event by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, who last year committed to convert the entire Maryland Transit Administration bus fleet to hybrid-electric buses by 2014. Earlier this year, the state of Maryland was able to accelerate purchase of the hybrid-electric buses with the help of Recovery Act funds and, as a member of the Clean Cities program, the state would be eligible to apply for additional funds needed to meet their goal through the pilot program announced today. The Vice President was also joined by United States Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (D-MD).
"Sustainability, particularly in terms of stabilizing and reversing Global Climate Change before it is too late, may very well prove to be the defining economic, environmental, and moral issue of our times," said Governor O’Malley. "One of the boldest, most innovative, most forward-looking parts of the President and Vice President’s vision for economic recovery and reinvestment, is their belief that we can fuel our country’s economic engine by revolutionizing the way we fuel our cars, trucks, buses, trains and airplanes. Here in Maryland, where the $610 million in transportation investments we’re receiving from the Obama-Biden Administration are supporting an estimated 17,000 jobs, federal investments are helping us advance toward a goal we’ve set of transitioning a full 40 percent of our state vehicle purchases to alternative fuel or hybrid vehicles by 2010."
The Clean Cities Program offers $300 million to support at least 30 alternative fuels or advanced vehicles projects and requires a 50 percent participant cost share. Technologies eligible to be funded include a number of different light and heavy-duty vehicles, including hybrid, plug-in electric hybrid, hydraulic hybrid, electric, fuel cell, and compressed natural gas vehicles. In addition, projects can support refueling infrastructure for alternative fuels, including biofuels and natural gas. Other efforts eligible for funds include public awareness campaigns and training programs on alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles and infrastructure.
"We are living in a critical time in our nation’s history. We face an economic crisis, an energy security crisis, and a global climate crisis. The Recovery Act has already begun to put Americans to work undertaking the essential task of reducing our use of energy and our dependence on foreign oil, which will strengthen our economy and security. It will also boost investments in clean renewable energy generation from the wind, sun, and other clean sources," said Senator Cardin. "These funds will allow us to develop new sectors in our economy that will provide high-paying jobs here in America and technologies and services we can export aboard."
"On this Earth Day, I am proud to join Vice President Biden, Gov. O’Malley, and Sen. Cardin in announcing funds from the Recovery Act to be used for the Clean Cities Petroleum Reduction Technologies Project," said Rep. Donna F. Edwards. "This funding exemplifies the dedication of the Obama Administration and this Congress to invest in the development of alternative fuel technology and infrastructure. These efforts will help spur economic development through job creation in Maryland and across the country, and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels."
Applicants to the Clean Cities Program must be state governments, local governments, or metropolitan transit authorities, that partner with a designated Clean Cities coalition. Once awarded, these funds will help local and state government agencies make investments in clean transportation vehicles and fuels that they may not have the resources to do otherwise.
Clean Cities is a government-industry partnership led by the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy that promotes the growth of alternative fuels and showcases the potential of advanced fuels and vehicles. The existing program has helped put more than half a million alternative fuel vehicles on the road and played a role in the construction of thousands of alternative refueling stations. For more information on Clean Cities, please visit www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities.
The pilot projects will be funded with money appropriated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Administration expects these projects will create tens of thousands of U.S. jobs. More information on the Recovery Act and all projects funded by it are available at www.recovery.gov.
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"For city and state governments across this country, every day is Earth Day thanks to the ambitious commitments they are making to green their vehicles and transit systems. Now it’s time for Washington to help them deliver on those promises," said Vice President Biden. "From advanced battery cars to hybrid-electric city buses, we’re going put Recovery Act dollars to work deploying cleaner, greener vehicles in cities and towns across the nation that will cut costs, reduce pollution and create the jobs that will drive our economic recovery."
The Clean Cities Alternative Fuel and Advanced Technology Vehicles Pilot Program will speed the transformation of our nation’s vehicle fleet, help to reduce carbon emissions and increase energy security by helping reduce U.S. dependence to foreign oil. This funding adds to the $11 billion already announced by the Department of Energy to bolster state and local government energy efficiency programs and weatherize low-income homes.
"These funds will give local and state governments the tools to expand the use of advanced technology vehicles in their fleets while at the same time building the infrastructure needed for tomorrow’s clean economy," said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. "This program represents another step toward freeing America from its reliance on foreign oil and lessening our emissions that contribute to global climate change."
Vice President Biden was joined at the event by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, who last year committed to convert the entire Maryland Transit Administration bus fleet to hybrid-electric buses by 2014. Earlier this year, the state of Maryland was able to accelerate purchase of the hybrid-electric buses with the help of Recovery Act funds and, as a member of the Clean Cities program, the state would be eligible to apply for additional funds needed to meet their goal through the pilot program announced today. The Vice President was also joined by United States Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (D-MD).
"Sustainability, particularly in terms of stabilizing and reversing Global Climate Change before it is too late, may very well prove to be the defining economic, environmental, and moral issue of our times," said Governor O’Malley. "One of the boldest, most innovative, most forward-looking parts of the President and Vice President’s vision for economic recovery and reinvestment, is their belief that we can fuel our country’s economic engine by revolutionizing the way we fuel our cars, trucks, buses, trains and airplanes. Here in Maryland, where the $610 million in transportation investments we’re receiving from the Obama-Biden Administration are supporting an estimated 17,000 jobs, federal investments are helping us advance toward a goal we’ve set of transitioning a full 40 percent of our state vehicle purchases to alternative fuel or hybrid vehicles by 2010."
The Clean Cities Program offers $300 million to support at least 30 alternative fuels or advanced vehicles projects and requires a 50 percent participant cost share. Technologies eligible to be funded include a number of different light and heavy-duty vehicles, including hybrid, plug-in electric hybrid, hydraulic hybrid, electric, fuel cell, and compressed natural gas vehicles. In addition, projects can support refueling infrastructure for alternative fuels, including biofuels and natural gas. Other efforts eligible for funds include public awareness campaigns and training programs on alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles and infrastructure.
"We are living in a critical time in our nation’s history. We face an economic crisis, an energy security crisis, and a global climate crisis. The Recovery Act has already begun to put Americans to work undertaking the essential task of reducing our use of energy and our dependence on foreign oil, which will strengthen our economy and security. It will also boost investments in clean renewable energy generation from the wind, sun, and other clean sources," said Senator Cardin. "These funds will allow us to develop new sectors in our economy that will provide high-paying jobs here in America and technologies and services we can export aboard."
"On this Earth Day, I am proud to join Vice President Biden, Gov. O’Malley, and Sen. Cardin in announcing funds from the Recovery Act to be used for the Clean Cities Petroleum Reduction Technologies Project," said Rep. Donna F. Edwards. "This funding exemplifies the dedication of the Obama Administration and this Congress to invest in the development of alternative fuel technology and infrastructure. These efforts will help spur economic development through job creation in Maryland and across the country, and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels."
Applicants to the Clean Cities Program must be state governments, local governments, or metropolitan transit authorities, that partner with a designated Clean Cities coalition. Once awarded, these funds will help local and state government agencies make investments in clean transportation vehicles and fuels that they may not have the resources to do otherwise.
Clean Cities is a government-industry partnership led by the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy that promotes the growth of alternative fuels and showcases the potential of advanced fuels and vehicles. The existing program has helped put more than half a million alternative fuel vehicles on the road and played a role in the construction of thousands of alternative refueling stations. For more information on Clean Cities, please visit www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities.
The pilot projects will be funded with money appropriated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Administration expects these projects will create tens of thousands of U.S. jobs. More information on the Recovery Act and all projects funded by it are available at www.recovery.gov.
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