WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman David Wu announced today that during President Obama’s first 100 days in office, Oregon secured or became eligible for nearly $2.3 billion to revitalize the economy, including $382 million in new funds that were released today for K-12 education.

Working together, Congress and President Obama passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and other significant pieces of legislation to begin addressing our current economic crisis.  Only a portion of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds have been distributed thus far, so Oregon will receive even more money in the coming months.

“We have made a strong start,” said Congressman Wu.  “Together with President Obama, we are putting more money in the pockets of 95 percent of working Americans, creating and saving jobs across Oregon, and making investments in our communities that will kick-start the economy.  From keeping our schools open longer to improving energy efficiency to constructing smart public transportation, these funds are being used for things that we Oregonians value.”

Oregon has already received or is eligible for:

• $700,000,000 from the Making Work Pay tax credit that is showing up in the paychecks of more than 1.4 million hard-working Oregon families.
• $22,510,354 to support child care for working families.
• $33,501,500 in block grants to foster energy efficiency in building, transportation, and a wide range of other improvements.
• $38,512,236 to support the weatherization of homes, including adding more insulation, sealing leaks and modernizing heating and air conditioning equipment.
• $42,182,000 to the State Energy Program, available for rebates to consumers for energy saving improvements; development of renewable energy projects; promotion of Energy Star products; efficiency upgrades for state and local government buildings; and other innovative state efforts to help save families money on their energy bills.
• $848,700,207 potentially available to Oregon to keep our schools open longer, lay the foundation for a generation of education reform, and help save thousands of teaching jobs at risk due to state and local budget cuts.  Of this, $121 million has already been distributed, and $382 million was released today.
• $5,977,971 to expand services at 25 existing Community Health Centers to support an additional 32,506 patients and create or save a projected 120 jobs.
• $1,219,482 to provide meals for low-income seniors.
• $155,826,609 made available in Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) to protect health care for the families hit hard by the economic crisis and some of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.
• $2,490,016 in vaccines and grants to ensure more underserved Americans receive the vaccines they need.
• $333,902,389 in highway funds to help build and repair roads and bridges.
• $75,716,939 to repair and build public transportation infrastructure.
• $22,000,000 million for state and local law enforcement assistance available through the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, which supports a variety of efforts such as hiring and support for law enforcement officers; multijurisdictional drug and gang task forces; crime prevention and domestic violence programs; and courts, corrections, treatment, and justice information sharing initiatives.
  

“The nearly $2.3 billion available to Oregon thus far are already making a difference,” said Wu.  “We also have made huge strides by passing legislation to extend health insurance coverage to four million more children, guarantee equal pay for equal work for America’s working women, and make the biggest advance in wilderness preservation in a generation.

“However, we still have a long way to go,” Wu said.  “The budget that we are voting on this week lays the groundwork for long-term prosperity by dealing with our most pressing needs, including the development of alternative energy sources; health care reform to assure quality, affordable health care for all Americans; and unprecedented education investments and reforms.  There is much more to be done to ensure that Oregon and the rest of our country are strong and prosperous in the years to come.  We are on the right path and now must continue the hard work necessary to build a stronger, more stable future.”