DEPARTMENT RECEIVED $35 BILLION IN STIMULUS FUNDS DWARFING ITS ANNUAL BUDGET OF $27 BILLION
 

Washington, Mar 16 -

“The Stimulus Act was sold as necessary to preserve and create jobs, yet it failed in its main task of preventing the unemployment rate from exceeding 8 percent,” stated Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.  “The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) received $35.2 billion in Stimulus funds for a wide array of projects.  This massive infusion of funds strained the resources of DOE and the states, and many of the projects were not ‘shovel ready.’   The risk of fraud, waste, and abuse increases when there is pressure to spend great sums of money quickly. This hearing will focus on the status of these projects and their impact on the economy.”

On Thursday, March 17, 2011, at 1:30 PM in room 2322 of the Rayburn House Office Building, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing entitled “Oversight of DOE Recovery Act Spending.” This hearing will provide an update of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Department of Energy Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) oversight of DOE spending under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

Witnesses:
Gregory Friedman,?Inspector General, U.S. Department of Energy

Steve Isakowitz,? Chief Financial Officer, U.S. Department of Energy

Franklin Rusco,?Director, Natural Resources and Environment,?U.S. Government Accountability Office