DeLauro Meets With Municipal Leaders, Discussed Federal Funding to Benefit their Communities

New Haven, CT –Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) met with Mayors, First Selectmen and Town Managers from the Third Congressional District to discuss federal the funding included in the recently enacted the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the annual appropriations bill – signed into law this week (please click here to view funding included for the 3rd district) – as well as the challenges they are facing from the economy within their communities.

"Fixing the economy is of utmost urgency," said DeLauro. "Congress has passed two crucial bills to reverse course with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Omnibus Appropriations Act – to save millions of jobs, immediately cut taxes for 95 percent of workers, and begin an historic transformation of our economy. It is about investing – building a 21st century economy requires that we rebuild our crumbling roads, and bridges. As we continue to reel under staggering unemployment numbers, these are concrete steps to put Americans back to work."

Signed into law just about four weeks ago, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contains strategic efforts to create and save 41,000 jobs in Connecticut and spur critical economic development through investments in areas like education and infrastructure. For Connecticut, this means an additional $766 million to enable more children to learn in 21st century classrooms, labs, and libraries to help our kids compete with any worker in the world and $487.5 million in total infrastructure funding to enhance the safety, security, and efficiency of our highway, transit, rail, aviation, environmental, inland waterways, public buildings, and maritime transportation infrastructure.

Recovery package funding includes:

· An additional $487.5 million in infrastructure funding, including $75 million in federal funding for the expansion of Route 1 under the Amtrak Bridge in Branford. Additionally, the bid process has already begun and will be open for 30 days, instead of the typical 90 days.

· Just last Thursday, the White House announced that Connecticut will be receiving $38.5 million in recovery funding for the State Energy Program, and $64.3 million for weatherization efforts.

· $21.1 million for Byrne/JAG grants in Connecticut – to add cops, prosecutors, and probation officers; more radios and equipment; drug and gang task forces, treatment and correction programs.

· $1 billion for the COPs Hiring program nationwide, waiving the $75,000 per officer salary cap and the percent local match requirement

· On education, Connecticut will receive a total of $765.7 million and by the end of March, governors will be able to apply for approximately 70 percent of the State Fiscal Stabilization Funds (SFSF).

· In the next 30 days, nearly $700 million more will be available for various programs including vocational rehabilitation state grants and impact aid construction.

On the agenda moving forward, DeLauro added, "Moving beyond these bills, we will tackle the president's budget, which focuses on three key areas: health care reform; investing in alternative and renewable energy and addressing climate change; and education. The President also commits to programs that help our communities, including infrastructure spending and the establishment of a National Infrastructure Bank and increased funding for States and localities to protect Americans; and full funding for the Community Development Block Grant program while reforming the program's formula to better target economically distressed communities.

"Now more than ever we have to invest and create the framework for growth in the towns and cities across Connecticut – extending more opportunity to more people in their everyday lives."