Today, the California Democratic Congressional Delegation joined the majority of the House to approve the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  This job creation package will rebuild America, making us more globally competitive and energy independent, and transforming our economy for long-term growth; give American workers an immediate tax cut; and invest quickly in the economy.  The Senate is expected to approve this package tonight and the President will sign it into law early next week.

California has been one of the states hardest hit by this economic downturn.  Unemployment is at 9.2 percent – the third highest in the country – with over 1.7 million Californians looking for work.  This urgently needed package will create or save almost 400,000 jobs in the state.  While far from an economic cure all, this package is a strong move in the right direction.

California is projected to receive over $26 billion in economic recovery funding under ARRA.  (This number does not include competitive funding for programs such as the $3 billion distributed through the National Science Foundation, $10 billion distributed through the National Institute of Health, and $7.2 billion for extending broadband services to underserved communities.)

Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program   $1,666,918,000
National School Lunch Program    $9,740,000
Emergency Food Assistance Program    $11,839,000
Emergency Food and Shelter Program   $13,176,000
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund   $160,236,000
Clean Water State Revolving Fund    $284,636,000
Highway Funding      $2,569,568,000
Transit Formula Funding     $1,068,448,000
Public Housing Capital Fund    $118,569,000
Home Funding      $324,193,000
Homeless Prevention Fund     $190,038,000
Community Development Block Grant   $126,977,000
Byrne Justice Assistance Grant    $229,263,000
Crime Victims      $14,306,000
Internet Crimes Against Children Grants   $5,110,000
Violence Against Women Grants    $17,457,000
State Energy Program      $224,485,000
Weatherization       $192,170,000
Child Care and Development Block Grant   $220,273,000
Head Start      $82,708,000
State Stabilization Fund     $4,850,845,000
Title I Education for the Disadvantaged   $1,597,205,000
Education Technology     $114,224,000
Community Services Block Grant    $89,791,000
Senior Meals Program     $13,024,000
Dept. of Labor – State Employment Service Grants  $45,490,000
Dept. of Labor – Dislocated Workers State Grants  $224,992,000
Dept. of Labor – Adult State Grants     $80,927,000
Dept. of Labor – Youth State Grants    $188,507,000
Dept. of Education – Vocational Rehabilitation   $47,741,000
Dept. of Education – Special Education Part B, Sec. 611  $1,226,944,000
Medicaid Assistance     $10,000,000,000 +

Additionally:

• Over 12 million Californians will benefit from the Making Work Pay Credit
• Over 744,000 California students will benefit from an increase in Pell Grants
• 522,000 Californians will benefit from the College Tax Credit