Norton Hearing on GSA Stimulus Projects & Jobs in DC (5/4/09)

D.C. Takes Top Dollar in GSA Stimulus Projects and Jobs

Details Revealed at Hearing Tuesday

May 4, 2009

Washington, DC -Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), chair, Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, will reveal the District of Columbia projects and dollars in the General Service Administration (GSA) stimulus provisions at her hearing Tuesday, May 5, 2 p.m., room. 2167, Rayburn. At the hearing, "Stimulus Funds - Up, Out, and Creating Jobs," the Congresswoman will disclose the 22 GSA projects in the District of Columbia, which has the highest number in the nation.

Norton has waged continuing and successful vigilance against attempts to cease treating the District as a state for the purposes of distribution of federal funds. However, she said, "The stimulus bill marks the first time the District has actually had an advantage in federal funding because we are both the official federal city and a hometown. This is the seat of government with its prime land used for federal office space." The District has an additional amount of almost $2 billion for modernization and repairs of federal buildings and construction of the new Department of Homeland Security headquarters. This amount is in addition to the state stimulus spending of $1 billion Norton was able to get for the city for programs and infrastructure. The District will also get new jobs from the construction of the Department of Homeland Security headquarters already underway and from work done on the 22 federal projects. Six of the 22 GSA projects in the District are major modernization projects ranging from $15 million to $225 million, totaling over $662 million. The other 16 projects are focused on energy efficiency and range from $600,000 to $23 million, totaling $93,167,000. This $750 million in construction will generate approximately 8,000 direct jobs in addition to stimulating apprenticeships and growth in related industries. The DHS headquarters, due for groundbreaking this summer, will generate 38,000 jobs over the next several years.

Witnesses at the hearing will include Michael Gallagher, assistant deputy commissioner for Budget, Finance, and Management, Social Security Administration, who will discuss Social Security's partnership with GSA to construct a new data center that will replace the aging 30-year-old National Computer Center. In addition to being state-of-the-art, the new facility will incorporate green building technology and use new energy efficient equipment and processes. Other witnesses are William Guerin, director, GSA Recovery Act Program Management Office; and Brian Miller, inspector general, GSA.