Key Issues - Stimulus Package
ResourcesClick here for a summary of the fourteenth meeting of the Pennsylvania Stimulus Oversight Commission held on June 17, 2010 in Harrisburg. Commission Chairman Ron Naples provided members with an update on the ARRA cumulative investment and spending in Pennsylvania. As of May 31, 2010, a total of $9.603 billion had been committed and $7.762 billion had actually been spent. Secretary of General Services James Creedon provided an implementation report on transportation, clean water, and energy. The Commission then heard presentations from: Cathy Myers, Special Assistant, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, who provided an overview of the ARRA funding for energy projects; Beth Olanoff, Executive Policy Manager, Pennsylvania Department of Education who provided an update on the Commonwealth’s efforts with regard to the Race to the Top education grant program; Naomi Wyatt, Secretary, Office of Administration, who provided information on broadband stimulus funding; and John Cavanaugh, Chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, and Jeffery Kuhns, Associate Vice Provost, Pennsylvania State University, who provided information on KINBER, a non-profit corporation established to provide services to Pennsylvania through the establishment of a high-speed network for research and education purposes. Members of the Commission also heard from John Daschak, Director of the Bureau of Audits in the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget, who provided an overview of the auditing procedures involved with ARRA funds. Finally, Secretary Creedon provided an update on the Commonwealth’s continuing efforts to include small and disadvantaged business in the ARRA spending. The information included this memo and a power point presentation. Information on this meeting and past meetings of the Commission can be found here. Click here for a summary of the thirteenth meeting of Pennsylvania Stimulus Oversight Commission held on May 13, 2010 in Harrisburg. Commission Chairman Ron Naples provided members with an update on the ARRA cumulative investment and spending in Pennsylvania. As of April 30, 2010, a total of $9.081 billion had been committed and $6.933 billion had actually been spent. The Commission then heard presentations from: James D. Ritzman, Deputy Secretary for Planning, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, who provided an overview of the ARRA funding impact on transportation projects; Joseph Casey, General Manager of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority, who provided an overview of ARRA’s impact on SEPTA; John Paul, Executive Director of the Butler Township-City Joint Municipal Transit Authority, who provided an update on the Butler Intermodal Transit Center project; and David Kilmer, Executive Director of the Red Rose Transit Authority, Lancaster, PA who provided an update on the Authority’s Administrative and Maintenance Facility renovation project funded by ARRA. Members of the Commission also heard from Robert Latham, Executive Vice-President of Associated Pennsylvania Constructors who provided a brief update on the impact that ARRA has had on private construction employers and employees. Secretary of General Services James Creedon then provided an implementation report on transportation, clean water, energy, and broadband projects. Information on this meeting and past meetings of the Commission can be found here. Click here for a summary of the twelfth meeting of the Pennsylvania Stimulus Oversight Commission held on April 15, 2010 in Allentown, PA. The Commission heard presentations from three panels. The first panel provided insight into stimulus spending in Pennsylvania’s cities, while the second panel provided information on stimulus spending in counties. During the third and final panel, members of the Commission viewed a presentation and slideshow by Monty Alger, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Air Products and Chemicals Inc.; heard a report on stimulus funds received by Lehigh University; and received an update on the implementation, at the local level, of the weatherization component of ARRA by the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley. Following the panel presentations, Commission Chairman Naples provided members with an overview report of the Recovery Act in Pennsylvania for the quarter ending March 31, 2010, which indicated that of the $13.5 billion in funds to be provided directly to the Commonwealth, approximately $8.5 billion had been committed with $6.32 billion of that amount actually expended. Secretary of General Services James Creedon then provided an implementation report on transportation, clean water, energy, and health projects. Information on this meeting and past meetings of the Commission can be found here. Click here for a summary of the eleventh meeting of the Pennsylvania Stimulus Oversight Commission held on March 11, 2010. As it was the approximate one year anniversary of the stimulus program, Commission Chairman Naples provided a brief overview report of the Recovery Act (ARRA) in Pennsylvania. Members of the commission also received an update on the amount of stimulus spending in the state which indicated that ARRA funds to be distributed through the Commonwealth totaling $7.831 billion have been committed; of which $5.557 billion have already been spent with the remaining $2.274 billion in progress. Secretary of General Services James Creedon provided an implementation report on transportation, clean water, environmental, workforce, broadband and health projects. A map of the broadband project can be accessed here. In addition, Secretary of Environmental Protection John Hanger provided the Commission with a summary and update on the State Energy Plan as it relates to ARRA, while Secretary of Community and Economic Development George Cornelius summarized the state’s weatherization efforts. Commission members also viewed a presentation by Deputy Accountability Officer Eileen McNulty on the Commission’s website and the information available there. Finally, Secretary of General Services Creedon provided information on the Commonwealth’s continuing efforts to include small and disadvantaged businesses in the expenditure of federal stimulus monies. Information on this meeting and past meetings of the Commission, including the February 11, 2010 meeting which was cancelled due to weather, can be found here. Click here for a summary of the tenth meeting of the Pennsylvania Stimulus Oversight Commission held on January 14, 2010. Members of the commission received an update on the amount of stimulus spending in the state which indicated that ARRA funds to be distributed through the Commonwealth totaling $6.043 billion have been committed; of which $4.362 billion have already been spent with the remaining $1.681 billion in progress. Secretary of General Services James Creedon provided an implementation report on transportation, clean water, and energy projects. Christian L. Soura, Senior Advisor for Recovery Implementation, reported on the Commonwealth’s most recent Section 1512 reports for the quarter ending December 31, 2009. Under Section 1512 of the ARRA legislation, each recipient of ARRA funds is required to file cumulative quarterly reports within 10 days of the close of the quarter. Michael Kane of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency provided the Commission with an update on funds received for criminal justice programs. Members were also provided with an update on the public comments received on Pennsylvania’s proposed Strategic Plan for the Pennsylvania Health Information Exchange. Finally, Beth Olanoff of the Pennsylvania Department of Education provided information on the Race to the Top educational grant program. Information on this meeting and past meetings of the Commission, can be found here. Click here for a summary of the ninth meeting of the Pennsylvania Stimulus Oversight Commission meeting held on December 3, 2009. Members of the commission received an update on the amount of stimulus spending in the state which indicated that ARRA funds to be distributed through the Commonwealth totaling $5.272 billion have been committed; of which $3.530 billion have already been spent with the remaining $1.742 billion in progress. Secretary of General Services James Creedon provided an implementation report on transportation, clean water, and energy projects, and updated members on the Commonwealth’s efforts to include Minority, Women’s, Veterans’ and Small Business Enterprises in stimulus projects. Gerald Zahorchak, Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Education, provided the commission with information about funds available to the Commonwealth for education-related purposes. Numerous presentations were also given on the various bond programs included in the stimulus act. A summary chart of the bond programs can be found here. Finally, members of the commission received information on Pennsylvania’s proposed Strategic Plan for the Pennsylvania Health Information Exchange. Information on this meeting and past meetings of the Commission, can be found here. Click here for a summary of the eighth meeting of the Pennsylvania Stimulus Oversight Commission held on October 30, 2009. Members of the commission received an update on the amount of stimulus spending in the state which indicated that ARRA funds to be distributed through the Commonwealth totaling $4.301 billion have been committed; of which $2.637 billion have already been spent with the remaining $1.663 billion in progress. Secretary of General Services James Creedon also provided an implementation report on transportation, clean water, and energy projects, as well as the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund. Naomi Wyatt, Secretary of Administration, updated members on the Commonwealth’s proposals for the Broadband funding under the Act, while Secretary of Labor and Industry Sandi Vito provided information on the programs administered by her department, including unemployment compensation funds. Finally, representatives of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants provided a presentation on the tax credits and incentives available for businesses and individuals. Information on this meeting and past meetings of the Commission, can be found here. Click here for a summary of the seventh meeting of the Pennsylvania Stimulus Oversight Commission held on October 8, 2009. Members of the commission received an update on the amount of stimulus spending in the state which indicated that ARRA funds to be distributed through the Commonwealth totaling $3.895 billion have been committed; of which $2.264 billion have already been spent with the remaining $1.632 billion in progress. Secretary of General Services James Creedon also provided an implementation report on transportation, clean water, weatherization, and homelessness prevention projects. A representative of the state’s Accountability Office provided commission members with information about the Section 1512 reporting requirements under the federal act, while Kelly Heffner of the Department of Environmental Protection’s Policy Office updated the commission on the State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program. Members also received a presentation from a representative of the U.S. Government Accountability Office about the federal agency’s report on the Commonwealth’s use and implementation of the stimulus funds. Information on this meeting and past meetings of the Commission, can be found here. Click here for a summary of the sixth meeting of the Pennsylvania Stimulus Oversight Commission held of September 10, 2009. Members of the commission received an update on the amount of stimulus spending in the state which indicated that ARRA funds to be distributed through the Commonwealth totaling $2.948 billion have been committed; of which $1.754 billion have already been spent with the remaining $1.194 billion in progress. Secretary of General Services James Creedon also provided an implementation report on transportation, clean water and weatherization projects. Secretary of Transportation Allen Biehler reported to the members that $1.5 billion in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant funds for multi-modal projects are available nationally on a discretionary competitive basis. Using criteria supplied by the federal government, PennDOT has reviewed 15 projects of interest and arrived at three which are believed to be worthwhile candidates. Members of the commission also received updates on the energy and broadband components of the Commonwealth’s stimulus efforts. Finally, Philip Magistro of the Governor’s Office of Health Care Reform provided members with information on the Health Information Technology for Clinical and Economic Health (HITECH) funding under the ARRA legislation. Information on this meeting and past meetings of the Commission, can be found here. Click here for a summary of the fifth meeting of the Pennsylvania Stimulus Oversight Commission held on July 16, 2009. Members of the commission received an update on the amount of stimulus spending in the state which indicated that, as June 30, 2009, the Commonwealth had expended approximately $1.2 billion in stimulus funds. Secretary of Transportation Allen Biehler provided members with a presentation on two discretionary transportation programs – the High Speed/Intercity Passenger Rail Program and the National Surface Transportation System Program. A copy of the presentation can be viewed here. In addition, Secretary Biehler provided information on projects identified as possible candidates for the $1.5 billion Multimodal Discretionary Program. Members were also briefed on the stimulus funds available for broadband infrastructure improvement and expansion. During the meeting, a representative of the State Accountability Office informed the Commission of the steps being taken by the Commonwealth to comply with the reporting requirements of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Members also received copies of a Government Accountability Office report on Pennsylvania’s current and planned uses of the stimulus funds and a copy of testimony presented to Congress by the GAO on all 50 states’ plans for the funds. Information on this meeting and past meetings of the Commission, can be found here. Click here for a summary of the fourth meeting of the Pennsylvania Stimulus Oversight Commission held on June 11, 2009. Members of the commission received an update on the amount of stimulus spending in the state which indicated that, as June 5, 2009, the Commonwealth had expended approximately $1 billion in stimulus funds. More detailed information about specific energy projects that are being considered for funding can also be found here. During the meeting, the Budget Secretary provided a presentation on the Commonwealth’s existing processes to prevent and detect fraud and abuse of state and federal funds, including stimulus funds. Information on this meeting and past meetings of the Commission, can be found here. Click here for a summary of third meeting of the Pennsylvania Stimulus Oversight Commission held on May 7, 2009. Members of the commission received a synopsis of AARA 2009 Formula Funding by Agency and a report on AARA competitive grants. Special topics addressed during the meeting included a presentation on Pennsylvania’s Weatherization State Plan; presentations on the energy components of the Commonwealth’s efforts known as PA Conservation Works and PA Green Energy Works; and an update on transportation funding. Information on this meeting and past meetings of the Commission, can be found here. Click here for a summary of the second meeting of the Pennsylvania Stimulus Oversight Commission. At this meeting, Secretary of General Services Creedon gave members of the commission an up-to-date implementation report on stimulus projects and funding in the Commonwealth, while a representative from the Pennsylvania Department of Education gave a presentation on education stimulus funding. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – The Basics for Pennsylvania provides an overview of the benefits the Commonwealth and its citizens will receive under the federal legislation. Your Guide to the Pennsylvania Economic Recovery Package presents the funding coming to Pennsylvania broken down by state agency. Tables presenting the Stimulus Funds by individual subject area are also available for Transportation, Housing and Community Development, Water and Wastewater Infrastructure, and Energy. The Preliminary Grant Opportunities under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act publication provides information on the various grant programs available, the funding available for each, who is eligible for the program and how to apply. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation released its final list of highway and bridge projects to be completed using the transportation infrastructure funds from the federal government on March 16, 2009. Click here to view a map of the Transportation Projects broken down by region which will be undertaken using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds and state and federal highway funds. The Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Stimulus page includes information on the Education Stimulus programs for Pennsylvania, including the Race to the Top grant program and the Qualified School Construction and Qualified Zone Academy Bond Programs. On March 27, 2009, Governor Rendell signed Executive Order 2009-01 establishing the Pennsylvania Stimulus Oversight Commission to review the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Commonwealth’s activities with respect to the Act and its funding opportunities. The Initial Implementing Guidance for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 issued by the federal Office of Management and Budget provides the initial set of government-wide requirements and guidelines that Federal agencies must immediately implement or prepare for in order to effectively manage activities under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) of 2009. Recovery.pa.gov established by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will provide information on the state’s efforts in this area and how and where the stimulus money is being used to promote economic recovery in the Commonwealth. The www.heretohelp.pa.gov website has also been established as a resource for people looking for assistance and provides direction and information regarding available programs, including help for the uninsured, information about COBRA coverage, and mortgage assistance. The National Conference of State Legislatures’ Economic Stimulus 2009 page provides information on various aspects of the stimulus package of interest to the states, including breakdowns on each of the major components. The StateRecovery.org site maintained by the Council of State Governments is designed to help states decipher potential funding opportunities and share best practices by tracking how the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government are responding to and impacted by the federal recovery legislation. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: A Guide for State and Local Governments prepared by Latham & Watkins, LLP for the Council of State Governments and State Implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act prepared by the National Governors Association provide information on the programs and funding included in the stimulus legislation and suggested actions for state and local officials to maximize the opportunities under the act. Recovery.gov established by the federal government will feature information on how the Act is working, tools to help individuals hold the government accountable, and up-to-date data on the expenditure of funds. The site will include information about federal grant awards and contracts as well as formula grant allocations. Federal agencies will provide data on how they are using the money, and eventually, recipients of federal funding will provide information on how they are using their funds.
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