Washington, D.C.--Congressman Eliot Engel met with Spring Valley Mayor George O. Darden and Deputy Mayor Noramie Jasmin as part of his program to help localities seeking federal assistance in revitalizing their towns and villages. On Wednesday, February 4, he received a list of projects from Mayor Darden which includes $1 million for the Stonehouse Drive drainage project, $1.8 million for Site III affordable housing, $750,000 for Memorial Park, and $500,000 for Kennedy Park.

“The Economic Recovery package promises to help localities across the country to bring our country back from the edge of a serious recession. This will assist localities to rebuild their infrastructure,” said Rep. Engel. “I am working to fully support them, including fighting to get as much money as possible in the package for education, infrastructure, energy and medical care.”

The 11-term congressman said that he was willing to work with all of the localities in his district to obtain for them the help they need. He also encouraged them to send along to him their requests.

The House has already passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, working from priorities shared with President Barack Obama. The Senate is will soon pass their version of the bill. The differences between the two versions will be resolved in a joint House-Senate Conference Committee. Hopefully, a final version of the legislation will be sent to the President for his signature by the end of this week.

Despite the President’s working with the House Republicans and adopting some of their amendments, they refused to provide a single vote for the package, preferring to do nothing in the face of our dire economic circumstances. Instead, they are spreading misleading information about the Economic Recovery package.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will:

* Create and save 3 to 4 million jobs, rebuilding America, making us more globally competitive and energy independent, and transforming our economy for long-term growth.
* Give 95 percent of Americans an immediate tax cut.
* Invest over $100 billion in roads, bridges, mass transit, flood control, clean water projects, and other infrastructure projects.
* Invest quickly into the economy – 75 percent in the first 18 months.

This plan has unprecedented accountability measures built in—providing strong oversight, a historic degree of public transparency, and doesn’t include any earmarks.

“When this plan passes,” said Rep. Engel, “and it must, I will work with all the areas of my district to ensure that we get our fair share, and that all parts of the 17th Congressional District obtain the help they need and deserve.”

Photo caption - (l-r) Spring Valley Deputy Mayor Noramie Jasmin, Congressman Eliot Engel, and Spring Valley Mayor George O. Darden at Congressman Engel’s Washington office where the village officials conferred with the Congressman about getting money in the Economic Recovery Package for Spring Valley.