Senator Amy Klobuchar

Working for the People of Minnesota

American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced the Senate passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which will direct more than $4 billion to Minnesota and is expected to create or save more than 66,000 jobs across Minnesota and give tax relief to 2.1 million workers and their families.

"The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will jumpstart our economy in the near term while also building the foundation for longer-term prosperity," said Klobuchar. "It will create millions of jobs and make critical investments in our roads, bridges and highways, in renewable, homegrown sources of energy and in our high-speed Internet infrastructure."

Klobuchar played a leading role in changing the original Senate Medicaid formula (FMAP) by leading the charge against an amendment that was narrowly defeated and would have cost the state $203 million. She ultimately worked to provide an additional $90 million more to Minnesota over the original Senate Finance Committee formula.

"Millions of Americans have already lost their jobs, their homes or their retirement savings - some have lost all three," said Klobuchar.

In the Senate, Klobuchar worked with both Democratic and Republican colleagues to improve the legislation by strengthening support for transportation, high-speed Internet and police funding.

"It's not a perfect bill from my perspective, but we literally can't afford to wait any longer to take action. And this bill is a major first step."

The President signed the bill into law Tuesday, February 17th, 2009. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is expected to:

  • Create or save 66,000 jobs in Minnesota, with over 90 percent of them in the private sector.
  • Invest $35.4 million in funds for water and sewer projects, $502.3 million in highway funds, and $94.1 million in investments in mass transit in Minnesota.
  • Provide critical tax relief for middle class Minnesotans. The "Making Work Pay Tax Credit" will provide up to $400 for individuals and $800 for married couples. An estimated 2.1 million Minnesotans will receive tax relief through this credit.
  • Prevent 473,000 Minnesotans from paying the "Alternative Minimum Tax." The AMT was established in 1969 to target approximately 150 high-income households that were making so many deductions that they otherwise would have no tax liability. Because it has not been indexed for inflation, it now affects millions of middle class households.
  • Provide over $7 billion dollars to develop America's information infrastructure to help create jobs in rural communities.
  • Lessen the burden on local tax-payers by putting more than $821.4 million in funds that invest in local school districts and public colleges and universities.
  • Target communities hard-hit by job loss by providing $17.5 million in funds to retrain dislocated workers and help communities with high unemployment rates build "regional clusters" of industry and workforce.
  • Help Minnesota meet budget challenges by directing $2 billion in Medicaid funds, freeing up funds that currently consume more than one-third of Minnesota's state budget.
  • Direct $54.5 million in funds for Minnesota's State Energy Program and $134.7 million to help Minnesotans weatherize their homes, which is also geared toward creating jobs in the process.
  • Meet human needs and protect important services with over $184.1 million in funds that support Minnesota's food banks, school lunches, and other vital nutrition programs.

Economic Recovery Package

To find a summary of the Minnesota funding in the federal stimulus legislation, please click the link here.

Economic Recovery Funds

To find a summary of the ARRA legislation, click here or here.

To find a summary of the national funding in the federal stimulus legislation, click here.

To see where the ARRA money is going and other information, please click here.

Senator Klobuchar’s Offices

302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Main Line: 202-224-3244
Main Fax: 202-228-2186
Toll Free: 1-888-224-9043

1200 Washington Avenue South, Suite 250
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Main Line: 612-727-5220
Main Fax: 612-727-5223
Toll Free: 1-888-224-9043

1134 7th Street NW
Rochester, MN 55901
Main Line: 507-288-5321
Fax: 507-288-2922

121 4th Street South
Moorhead, MN 56560
Main Line: 218-287-2219
Fax: 218-287-2930

Olcott Plaza, Suite 105
820 9th Street North
Virginia, MN 55792
Main Line: 218-741-9690
Fax: 218-741-3692