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Office of Inspector General

From the Press Room

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Overview

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The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is an effort to jumpstart our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. With much at stake, the Act provides for unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability so that you will be able to know how, when, and where your tax dollars are being spent. Spearheaded by a new Recovery Board, this Act contains built-in measures to root out waste, inefficiency, and unnecessary spending. See more at recovery.gov.

Implementing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Projects supported by these funds will not only make the country safer and more secure, but they also will create new jobs, and in some cases, save the jobs of men and women who do the work of staying ahead of those who would seek to do us harm.

St. Elizabeths/DHS Headquarters Consolidation:

$650 million ($200 million to DHS; $450 million to GSA)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP):

$720 million for construction at land ports of entry ($300 million GSA; $420 million CBP)
$100 million for Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) technology
$100 million for border technology on the southwest border
$60 million for tactical communications equipment and radios

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):

$20 million for ICE automation modernization and tactical communications

Transportation Security Administration:

$1 billion for explosives detection systems and checkpoint screening equipment

U.S. Coast Guard:

$142 million for Alteration of Bridges program
$98 million for construction, which may include the following:

Shore facilities and aids to navigation facilities
Vessel repair/acquisition (includes High Endurance Cutter)

Federal Emergency Management Agency:

$100 million for Emergency Food and Shelter Program
$150 million for transit and rail security grants
$150 million for port security grants, no non-federal match required
$210 million for Assistance to Firefighter (AFG) grants for firehouse construction; maximum grant is $15.0M
$5 million expansion in authority for FEMA Community Disaster Loans
Requires the establishment of an arbitration panel to resolve Katrina/Rita public assistance disputes
All non-federal matching requirements for SAFER grants waived for FY 2009-2010