Buyer's Proposals Addressed In American Recovery And Reinvestment Bill

Press Release

In the coming weeks Congress will consider the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009. The legislation, released today, contains a list of targeted efforts to help get the economy back on track. Included in the bill were proposals of Congressman Steve Buyer (IN-04) that he laid out in two letters he sent to the President-elect asking him to make sound investments in our nation's economy. Proposals of the Congressman's that were included in the bill include funding for the Veterans Administration facilities and clean, efficient, American-made energy.

"Developing our energy infrastructure will allow the resources of the United States to be put to more effective use," said Buyer. "America is 63 percent dependent on foreign sources of energy, and we grow more dependent by the year. We need to bridge ourselves to the renewable and alternative energy future in which we all want to live in and by making these sound investments we are closer to achieving that goal."

In Congressman Buyer's January 8 letter to the President-elect, he urged that the United States government must take steps to prepare our country for peak oil, invest in American-made energy, and improve our energy infrastructure. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill includes several provisions addressing the Congressman's requests within the legislation.

Aspects of the bill that address proposals from the Congressman's letter include:

$32 billion to transform the nation's energy transmission, distribution, and production systems by allowing for smarter and better grid and focusing investment in renewable technology.

$10 billion for science facilities, research, and instrumentation. (supporting research and development)

Reliable, Efficient Electricity Grid: $11 billion for research and development, pilot projects, and federal matching funds for the Smart Grid Investment Program to modernize the electricity grid making it more efficient, secure, and reliable and build new power to transmit clean, renewable energy from sources throughout the nation.

$8 billion in loans for renewable energy power generation and transmission projects.

$1.5 billion for energy sustainability and efficiency grants and loans to help school districts, institutes of higher education, local governments, and municipal utilities implement projects that will make them more energy efficient.

$300 million to provide consumers with rebates for buying energy efficient Energy Star products to replace old appliances, which will lower energy bills.

Clean Coal: $2.4 billion for carbon capture and sequestration technology demonstration projects. This funding will provide valuable information necessary to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere from industrial facilities and fossil fuel power plants.

In a December 29 letter to President-elect Obama, Congressman Buyer urged him to include over $2 billion in initiatives to assist veterans in the stimulus package, specifically the Congressman asked for $927 million, above current funding, to accelerate construction programs to upgrade VA's aging healthcare infrastructure and cemetery system. The bill includes $950 million for veterans' medical facilities and $50 million to put people to work making monument and memorial repairs at the cemeteries for America's heroes. The Department has identified a $5 billion backlog in needed repairs, including energy efficiency projects at its 153 medical facilities.

"I am pleased that the bill included some of my proposals for VA construction projects, but I am disappointed that it does not do more to create economic opportunities for veterans," Buyer said. "My recommendations included $1 billion per year to reauthorize an expired VA program to help veterans establish and operate small businesses. Another economic provision would provide over $357 million for employment training and job placement programs for veterans, especially homeless women veterans."

"Viable economic recovery plans must include job creation and support for veterans who own small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy. No segment of our population is more deserving than veterans to become the economic catalyst toward such recovery, and I hope congressional leaders will amend their package to include further provisions to assist veterans and their families."

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