Norton Update at Hearing Clears DC of Poor Stimulus Showing (10/28/09)

Norton Update at Hearing Clears D.C. of Poor Stimulus Showing and Shows Spending for Subcommittee Agencies Meeting Goals

October 28, 2009

WASHINGTON, DC - At a hearing yesterday afternoon entitled "Recovery Tracking #3: Following the Dollars to the Jobs," before her subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) revealed that the District of Columbia is farther along in jobs creation than previously reported, and she urged federal agencies, training organizations, and contractors, to work together to achieve job creation even faster.

"At the last hearing, I was chagrined to see the District of Columbia listed next to last among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in highway stimulus spending," Norton said. "I want to report today, however, that 70 percent of the District's highway stimulus funds have been awarded or spent." As the stimulus bill was being considered, Norton took pains to see that the District was treated as a state for funding. However, the District could not begin its work like states with large Departments of Transportation staffs on hand, but instead must rely mostly on contractors. "Now that most of the work is in progress, it appears that the city is using the funds as Congress most desired, for energy conservation and sustainable projects that facilitate walking, cycling, and mass transit improvements and other projects that improve the local retail and commercial environment."

On Monday, Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Jim Oberstar and Norton went to Murch Elementary School, where the National Center for Safe Routes to Schools awarded the school the James L. Oberstar Safe Routes to School Award for being the best in the country at encouraging walking and biking to school. Murch was able to win the award because the District added $4 million to its existing infrastructure funding for the Safe Routes to Schools program.

Norton heard testimony from three agencies under her jurisdiction, who received stimulus, and contractors with GSA stimulus grants, including Kathleen McKirchy, executive director, Community Services Agency of the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO, which won a $1.2 million contract for pre-apprenticeship programs, focusing on women, minorities, youth, and ex-offenders.

Norton's tracking hearings have had the desired effect, with all the agencies reporting 100 percent of funds obligated or on target with obligation goals.

The Congresswoman's opening statement is attached. Video of the hearing is archived at https://transportation.house.gov/.