Monday event at Tucson Police Department caps a busy weekend for Arizona lawmaker
TUCSON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and the leaders of five Southern Arizona communities will deliver a progress report Monday on how stimulus funds are being put to work.
Mayors from Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley and Sahuarita, as well as the mayor pro tem of Sierra Vista, will join the congresswoman for the one-hour presentation at the Tucson Police Department.
Since The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act became law one year ago, these communities have benefitted from nearly $400 million in direct and indirect stimulus funding.
Approximately $136 million in direct funding is being used for a wide range of projects, including purchasing equipment for law enforcement agencies, repairing roads and improving energy efficiency.
Approximately $264 million in indirect funding is being used by school districts, health centers, non-profit agencies and the University of Arizona.
Funding for one of Southern Arizona’s largest stimulus projects – $63 million for a four-mile streetcar line in Tucson – was just announced Thursday by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
Two days earlier, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis highlighted the effective use of stimulus funds at the Pima County One-Stop job training center.
A complete breakdown of projects and entities receiving funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be provided on Monday.
Giffords kicks off a busy weekend of public events tonight by addressing a Marine Corps League event at Marana Town Hall. Marana Mayor Ed Honea also will speak.
On Saturday afternoon, the congresswoman will join Gov. Jan Brewer and other officials to celebrate Vail Pride Day at the Pima County Fairgrounds.
And on Sunday morning, Giffords will lead the opening ceremonies for an exhibit of a rare original copy of the Declaration of Independence. Giffords worked closely with the Arizona Historical Society and the National Student/Parent Mock Election to bring the document to the Arizona History Museum.
Only 26 original copies of the Declaration of Independence exist. Known as a broadside, the copies were the first published versions of the document that was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.
Media is welcome at all events. Details are below.
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords – Marine Corps League event
WHEN: 7-8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 19
WHERE: Marana Town Hall Council Chambers, 11555 W. Civic Center Drive
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords – Vail Pride Day
WHEN: 1:15 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 20
WHERE: Thurber Hall, Pima County Fair Grounds, 11300 S. Houghton Road
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords – Opening ceremony for Declaration of Independence exhibit
WHEN: 9 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 21
WHERE: Arizona History Museum, 949 E. Second St.
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords – How cities are putting stimulus funds to work
WHEN: 2-3 p.m., Monday, Feb. 22
WHERE: Tucson Police Department Headquarters, 270 S. Stone Ave.