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The stimulus package is now the only game in America. No one else but the government has any money to
do anything. With over $787 Billion in spending there is something there for everyone no matter what
you want to do or what income level you are. There are several major ways you can get some of this
$787 billion. Grants, tax credits, low interest loans and subsidies will be going directly to
individuals and businesses. |
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| Plus individuals and businesses can get one
of 3-4 million jobs that will be created or get part of the billions available in contracts and
freelance assignments. |
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Get a Great Job |
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No one else is going to be hiring except those
organizations and individuals who will be getting this money. Even Microsoft announced layoffs
recently. So if you are looking for a job or want a better one, start finding out who will be receiving
this money. Remember all information about who gets government money is open to the public. This is
your money and you have a right to see who is getting it. And those who receive it will have money to
hire someone like you.
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The money will be going to both federal and
state offices and to contractors who will be doing the actual work. You can identify the government
offices from the list below then contact those offices and ask for a list of their contractors.
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Get a Contract for Your Business or as a Freelancer |
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Most of the money in the stimulus
package will be going to businesses and individuals to do all the real work. I can be fixing up
schools, working on a new battery invention, making public housing more energy efficient, or training
new job seekers with customer service skills. And the businesses who receive these contracts
will need everything that any business will need like, office supplies, company cars, web design
services, legal services, catering services, furniture, or even real estate. See above under
‘Get a Great Job” to learn how to find these government offices and contractors who will
be getting this money. |
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Remember you can also seek the help of your elected official in tracking down this information.
You can go to
www.congress.org and put in your zip code on the left and get all the necessary
contact info |
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Help for Facing Tough Times |
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| In addition to tax credits, lots of
money will be trickling down to the local level to help those who need health care, help paying
their bills, fighting off their mortgage company, and training for a new job, or even day care.
Some of these programs have income requirements and some do not. So before you count
yourself out, be sure to check and get the facts first. Those who assume get left out in the
cold. |
| A summary of the
major provisions are listed below with source information on how to following the money. For
more detailed information on the stimulus package it requires got to
http://appropriations.house.gov/ and see American Recovery and Reinvestment – Conference Report |
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Grants, Loans, Payments & Services For Individuals |
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Free Medical Care |
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| $87 billion in increased Medicaid funding
will help states to respond to rising numbers of Americans seeking health coverage through Medicaid, to
balance state budgets, and to deal with other fiscal pressures brought on by the economic crisis. |
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Contact Your State Department of Health or Family Services at
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http://www.govengine.com |
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Get Paid While You Look For Work
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| $47 billion in unemployment insurance
improvements will allow Americans who lose their jobs in the economic downturn to receive an extra $25
in their weekly benefits, receive unemployment insurance longer if needed, pay fewer taxes on
unemployment benefits, and get help even if they need to move to part-time work or leave work for
family reasons |
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Contact Your State Unemployment Insurance Agency at
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http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/unemployment-insurance/index.htm |
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Keep Your Health Insurance
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Money For Free Food
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| $16.5 billion for additional Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly Food Stamps, benefits. |
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Contact the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program at
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http://www.fns.usda.gov/FSP/
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Get Extra Money To Live On
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| $3 billion in Temporary Assistance to
Needy Families funding will allow programs to better serve the country's lowest-income families in
this time of economic crisis |
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Contact Your State Department of Health and Human Services or Department of Family Services at
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http://www.govengine.com
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You can also find information at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at
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http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/tanf/index.html
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Keep Medicaid While You Work
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| $1.8 billion in Medicaid, Medicare, and
Indian Health Service funds will allow Americans transitioning into the workforce from the Temporary
Assistance to Needy Families program to keep health coverage through Medicaid longer, will assist
low-income seniors and disabled Americans with Medicare premiums, and will help American Indians and
Alaska Natives afford health care |
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Contact Your State Department of Health and Human Services or Department of Family Services at
http://www.govengine.com
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You can also find information at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/tanf/index.html
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Free Child Care
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| Child Care Development Block Grant: $2
billion to provide quality child care services for an additional 300,000 children in low-income
families who increasingly are unable to afford the high cost of day care. |
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Contact the National Child Care Information Center at
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http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/index.cfm
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Free Pre-school
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| Head Start & Early Head Start: $2.1 billion
to allow an additional 124,000 children to participate in this program, which provides development,
educational, health, nutritional, social and other activities that prepare children to succeed in
school. |
| Contact the Office of Head Start at
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http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ohs/
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Reduce Your Energy Bills
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Money For Food For Children
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| $500 Million for the Special Supplemental
Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The Committee recommends a total of $500 million for
WIC. In addition, the bill provides $150 billion for Food Banks.
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| Contact the Women, Infants, and Children
(WIC) Program at the Food and Nutrition Service at
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http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/
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Free Meals For Seniors
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| $100 Million to help senior meals programs
cope with steep increases in food and fuel costs. Many programs are reducing meal deliveries to seniors
or closing meal sites. The funding in the bill will result in an additional 30 million meals served.
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| Contact the Nutrition Services Incentive
Program of the Food and Nutrition Service at
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http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/programs/nsip/
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| or the Eldercare Locator at
http://www.eldercare.gov/
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More Grants For College Students
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| $15.6 Billion to increase the Pell Grant
maximum awardand pay for increases in program costs resulting from increased eligibility and higher
Pell Grant awards. The bill supports an increased Pell Grant maximum award to $5,350 in the 2009-2010
academic year and $5,550 in the 2010-2011 academic year. This aid will help 7 million students
pursue postsecondary education. |
| Contact Federal Pell Grant Program at the
U.S. Department of Education at |
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http://www.ed.gov/programs/fpg/index.html
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| or Federal Student Aid at the U.S.
Department of Education at
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http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/index.jsp
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$8,000 To Train For A New Job
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| $3.95 Billion for job training
including State formula grants for adult, dislocated worker, and youth programs (including $1.2 billion
to create up to one million summer jobs for youth). The training and employment needs of workers also |
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will be met through dislocated worker national emergency grants, new competitive grants for worker
training in high growth and emerging industry sectors (with priority consideration to “green
” jobs and healthcare), and increased funds for the Job Corps and Youth Build programs. Green
jobs training will include preparing workers for activities supported by other economic recovery
funds, such as retrofitting of buildings, green construction, and the production of renewable electric
power. |
| You can contact the U.S. Department of
Labor at |
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http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/training/index.htm
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| or you can look at the Career One-Stops at
http://www.careeronestop.org/
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Money For People With Disabilities
To Train For A New Job
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Free Job Placement Services
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| $400 Million for employment services to
match unemployed individuals to job openings through state employment service agencies and allow States
to provide customized reemployment services. |
| Contact Your State Employment Services at
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http://www.govengine.com
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| or you can look at the Career One-Stops at
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http://www.careeronestop.org/
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More Money For Banks To Loans To
Business and Individuals In Low Income Communities
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| $250 Million to immediately provide capital
to qualified community development financial institutions (CDFIs) to invest in the development of
underserved communities. |
| Contact the Community Development Financial
Institutions Fund at |
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http://www.cdfifund.gov/
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Money For Local Non-Profits Who Help
People In Need
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| $400 Million for States and local
non-profits to deliver critical services to unemployed and low-income individuals struggling with the
effects of the recession. |
| Contact the Social Services Block Grant
Program at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at |
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http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/ssbg/
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Money For Local Community Groups To
Help You |
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Homeowners Assistance For Those In The Military |
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| $ 410.9 Million to expand the Department of Defense Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP) during the national mortgage crisis. Currently, HAP provides financial assistance to military and some civilian personnel who suffer severe financial loss or face foreclosure when property values decline as a result of a base closure. |
| Contact the U.S. Department of Defense Homeowners Assistance Program at |
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http://hap.usace.army.mil/
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Money To Help You Avoid Foreclosure |
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| $200 Million to support $11.5 billion in loans for 105,000 very low to moderate-income rural households to purchase a house or avoid the risk of foreclosure, especially during this period of uncertainty in the housing market. |
| Contact the Rural Housing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture at |
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http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/
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More and Cheaper Loans For Small Business |
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| $730 Million in Loans for Small Businesses, including $630 million to support $20 billion in zero-fee or reduced-fee loans to small businesses and $30 million for loans and critical technical assistance to “micro” borrowers. The dollar amount of loans guaranteed under the SBA’s two largest business loan programs was down 40% in the first quarter of this year compared to last. |
| Contact the U.S. Small Business Administration at |
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http://sba.gov/
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Free Employees To Non-Profits |
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| $200 Million for Non-Profits who Help Communities to Receive Free Employees from AmeriCorps |
Contact AmeriCorps at
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http://www.americorps.org/ |
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Tax Credits & Free Refunds For Individuals |
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$400 For You |
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$5,000 for 3 Children |
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| Tax Credit (refund) Up To $5,000 For Families with 3 Children Making Less Than $42,000 even if you pay $0 taxes
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| Contact the Internal Revenue Service at |
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http://www.irs.gov |
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$2,500 Credit for College Students |
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| Tax Credit (refund) Up To $2,500 For
College Students In First 2 Years even if you pay no taxes |
| Contact the Internal Revenue Service at |
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http://www.irs.gov |
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$1,000 Credit For A Child |
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$15,000 Credit For Home Purchase |
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$250 For Seniors and Disabled |
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| $250 For Seniors, Disabled and Others |
| Contact the Internal Revenue Service at |
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http://www.irs.gov |
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First $2,400 of Federal Unemployment Benefits in 2009 is Not Taxable |
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Health Insurance If You Lost Your Job Between 9/1/2008 and 12/31/2009 |
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| The Federal Government Will Subsidize 65% of Your COBRA Health Insurance |
| Contact the Internal Revenue Service at |
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http://www.irs.gov |
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For 2009 You Can Deduct State, Local and Excise Taxes You Pay On the Purchase of A New Car |
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In 2008 and 2009 Families With 529 College Savings Plan Can Make Withdrawals |
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to Use for Computers and Computer Technology Like Internet Service For Students Living At Home |
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Contact the Internal Revenue Service at |
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http://www.irs.gov |
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In 2008 and 2009 If You Commute To Work Using Public Transportation Your |
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Employer Can Put Aside $230 A Month In Pre Tax Money To Pay For Commuting |
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Contact the Internal Revenue Service at |
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http://www.irs.gov |
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Temporary Fix To Keep Millions of People From Paying the Alternative Minimum Tax |
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$8,000 Tax Credit For First Time
Home Buyers |
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Jobs, Contracts and Freelance Work |
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Money To Repair or Build New Schools |
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| $53.6 billion to repair, renovate and construct public schools. $16 billion in tax credit bonds and tax-exempt bond improvements |
| Contact your State Department of Education or your
local School Board at |
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http://www.govengine.com |
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Money To Bring Broadband To You |
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| $7.2 billion for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Broadband ..Technology Opportunities Program. This competitive grant funding will increase broadband access and usage in unserved and underserved areas of the Nation, which will better position the U.S. for economic growth, innovation, and job creation. |
| Contact U.S. National Telecommunications and
Information Administration at |
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http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ |
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$2.75 Billion To Make Us Safer |
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| $2.75 billion for the Department of Homeland Securityto secure the
homeland and promote economic activity. |
| Contact U.S. Department of Homeland Security,
State and Local Government Offices that Implement Homeland Security Programs and Contactors Who Supply the Goods and Services
to these Organizations at |
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http://www.dhs.gov/index.shtm |
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$4.6 Billion For Corps of Engineers. |
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Money To Improve VA Hospitals |
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| $1.2 Billion for VA Hospital and Medical Facility Construction and Improvements,
long-term care facilities for veterans, and improvements at VA national cemeteries. |
| Contact U.S. Veterans Administration and its Contractors |
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http://www.va.gov/ |
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$3.1 Billion To Improve Our Parks |
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| $3.4 billion for repair, restoration and improvement of public facilities at parks, forests, refuges and on other public and tribal lands. |
| Contact your state or local Department of Parks or Forestry at |
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http://www.govengine.com |
| or the National Park Service at |
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http://www.nps.gov/ |
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Money To Improve Department of Defense Facilities |
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| $4.2 Billion for Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and
Modernization to be used to invest in energy efficiency projects and to improve the repair and modernization of Department of
Defense facilities to include Defense Health facilities |
| Contact U.S. Department of Defense and its Contractors |
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http://www.defenselink.mil/ |
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Money For Housing For Department of Defense |
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| $2.3 Billion for Department of Defense Facilities
including quality of life and family-friendly military construction projects such as family housing and child care centers. |
| Contact U.S. Department of Defense and its Contractors |
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http://www.defenselink.mil/ |
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$2.25 Billion For Affordable Housing |
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$110 Million For Rural Broadband |
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| $110 Million in Tax Incentives to Build Broadband Capacity in
Rural and underserved areas will grow jobs in the technology sector and create economic opportunities in
targeted areas |
| Contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture at |
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http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/broadband.htm |
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Money For Highways |
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$8.4 Billion For Mass Transit |
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Money For Transportation |
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| $1.5 Billion for Competitive Grants to State
and Local Governments for transportation investments. |
| Contact your State or local transportation offices at |
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http://www.govengine.com |
| or
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration at |
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http://www.fhwa.dot.gov |
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Money To Improve Airports |
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| $1.3 Billion for Investments in our Air Transportation System. |
| Contact the Federal Aviation Administration at
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http://www.faa.gov/ |
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$9.1 Billion for High Speed Rail |
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Money For Park Roads. |
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| $830 Million for Repair and Restoration of Roads on park, forest, tribal and other public lands. |
| Contact your state or local Department of
Parks or Forestry at |
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http://www.govengine.com |
| or the National Park Service at |
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http://www.nps.gov/ |
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$4 Billion To Improve Public Housing |
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| $4 Billion to the Public Housing Capital Fund to enable local public housing agencies to address a $32 billion backlog in capital needs -- especially those improving energy efficiency in aging buildings. |
| Contact your state or local Department of Public Housing at |
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http://www.govengine.com or contact the Office of Capital Improvements at the
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| U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at
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http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/ph/capfund/index.cfm |
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$2 Billion For Section 8 Housing |
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| $2.1 Billion for Full-Year Payments to Owners Receiving Section 8 project-based rental assistance. |
| Contact your state or local Department of Public Housing at
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http://www.govengine.com |
| or contact the Office of Public and Indian Housing at
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at
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http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/index.cfm |
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250 Million For Energy Retrofitting and Green Investments in HUD-Assisted Housing Project |
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$2 Billion for Abandoned Houses |
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| $2 Billion for the Redevelopment of Abandoned and Foreclosed Homes |
| Contact your state or local Department of Housing or Public Housing at |
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http://www.govengine.com |
| or contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at |
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http://www.hud.gov/ |
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$1.5 Billion To Prevent Homelessness |
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| $1.5 Billion for Homeless Prevention Activities, which will be sent out to states, cities and local governments through the emergency shelter grant formula. |
| Contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development�s Homeless
Assistance Programs at
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http://www.hud.gov/homeless/ |
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$6 Billion To Clean Up Weapons Production |
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| $6.4 Billion is Directed Towards Environmental Cleanup of Former Weapon production and energy research sites. |
| Contact the U.S. Department of Energy at
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http://www.energy.gov/ |
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$6 Billion for Clean Water |
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| $6 Billion for Local Clean and Drinking Water Infrastructure Improvements |
| Contact the Office of Water at the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection
Agency at
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http://www.epa.gov/ow/ |
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$1.2 Billion For Cleanup |
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| $1.2 Billion for EPA's Nationwide Environmental Cleanup Programs, including Superfund. |
| Contact Superfund at the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection
Agency at
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http://www.epa.gov/superfund/ |
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$1.4 Billion for Water and Waste Disposal |
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$1 Billion for Outer Space Exploration |
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$3 Billion for Science Research |
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| $1.4 Billion Total for National Science Foundation (NSF) Research. |
| Contact the National Science Foundation at
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http://www.nsf.gov/ |
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$830 Billion for the Ocean |
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| $1.2 Billion Total for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). |
| Contact the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at
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http://www.noaa.gov/ |
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Money For Scientific Research |
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| $475 Million total for National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
including: $307 million for renovation of NIST facilities and new laboratories using green technologies; $168 million for scientific and technical research at NIST to strengthen the agency�s IT infrastructure; provide additional NIST research fellowships; provide substantial funding for advanced research and measurement equipment and supplies; increase external grants for NIST-related research. |
| Contact National Institute of Standards and Technology at
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http://www.nist.gov/index.html |
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$2 Billion For Energy Programs |
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| Laboratory infrastructure and construction for The Department of Energy's Science programs |
| Contact the U.S. Department of Energy at
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http://www.energy.gov |
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Money To Keep Your School Afloat |
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| $39 Billion State Fiscal Stabilization Fund for local school districts and public colleges and universities |
| Contact Your Local School Board or State Department of Higher Education at
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http://www.govengine.com |
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Money To Help Kids In Poor Schools |
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| $13 billion for Title I to help close the achievement gap and enable disadvantaged students to reach their potential. |
| Contact Your Local School Board at http://www.govengine.com or Title 1 Funds at the U.S. Department of Education at
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http://www.ed.gov/programs/titleiparta/index.html |
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Money For Kids In Special Education |
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$12.2 billion for Special Education/IDEA to improve educational outcomes for disabled
children
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Contact Your Local School Board at |
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http://www.govengine.com |
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or IDEA at the U.S. Department of Education at |
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http://idea.ed.gov/ |
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3.4 Billion For Fossil Energy Research and Development |
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$11 Billion for Smart-Grid Related Activities |
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$6.3 Billion for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Grants |
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$5 Billion for Weatherization Assistance Program |
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$2.5 Billion for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Research |
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$2 Billion for Advanced Battery Systems |
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$6 Billion Loan Guarantees For Wind and Solar Projects |
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$1 Billion for Other Energy Efficiency Programs |
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Money For Green Cars |
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$300 Million to replace older motor fleet vehicles owned by the Federal Government with alternative fuel automobiles that will save on fuel costs and reduce carbon emissions. |
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Contact the General Services Administration at |
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http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/home.do?tabId=0 |
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Money To Turn Federal Buildings Green |
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Wind, Solar and Photovoltaic Roof Systems For Defense |
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$613 Million for energy efficiency upgrades and construction of alternative energy projects, including wind and solar power and photovoltaic roof systems, at Department of Defense facilities.
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Contact the U.S. Department of Defense at |
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http://www.defenselink.mil/
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Health Information Technology |
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$19 billion to jumpstart efforts to computerize health records to cut costs and reduce medical errors.
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Contact Health Information Technology of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at |
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http://www.hhs.gov/healthit/ |
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Money For Health Research |
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$10 Billion to conduct biomedical research in areas such as cancer, Alzheimer's, heart disease and stem cells, and to improve NIH facilities
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Contact the National Institutes of Health at |
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http://nih.gov/ |
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$1 Billion For Disease Prevention and Wellness Programs |
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To fight preventable diseases and conditions with evidence-based strategies.
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Contact the National Institutes of Health at |
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http://nih.gov/ |
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Money To Evaluate Medical Research |
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$1.1 Billion to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, NIH and the HHS Office of the Secretary to evaluate the relative effectiveness of different health care services and treatment options |
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Contact the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at |
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http://www.ahrq.gov/ |
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More Law Enforcement Jobs |
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$3.5 Billion to Support Law Enforcement Efforts, including: $1.2 billion for Byrne Justice Assistance formula grants; $300 million for competitive grants to prevent crime and improve criminal justice; $1 billion for the COPS hiring grant program to put approximately 13,000 new cops on the beat and pay 75 percent of the cops’ salaries for three years; $300 million for grants to fight domestic violence; $100 million for crime victims compensation and assistance; and $50 million grants to States to track down cyber predators who prey on children. |
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Contact Your state or local law enforcement office at |
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http://www.govengine.com |
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or the U.S. Department of Justice at |
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http://www.usdoj.gov/ |
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Money To Watch The Bottom Line |
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$110 Million for GAO and Agency Inspectors General in order to provide appropriate
Oversight of spending contained in this bill.
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Contact the U.S. Government Accountability Office at |
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http://gao.gov/ |
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or the Inspector Generals at |
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http://www.ignet.gov/ |
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