More Information
The Economic Recovery (aka the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act)
Since the economy took a sharp downturn, lawmakers have been crafting a stimulus package to revitalize the economy and create jobs. This stimulus, full name: the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, injects billions of dollars into the economy. It has been President Obama and the new Congress's highest priority since taking office.
In less than a month, the Recovery Package passed through Congress and is about to be signed into law by President Obama.
Congress battled, largely along partisan lines, over the recovery package. Generally speaking, Republicans support more tax cuts and less government spending, while Democrats want more spending. The House of Representatives passed a version of the Recovery plan, including key funding for green jobs, with out a single Republican vote.
The House and Senate passed separate versions of the plan, which they reconciled on February 11th. On February 13th, Congress will vote on the bill, then send to President Obama to be signed into law.
For more information on the process of the bill moving through Congress, view this timeline.
Greening Jobs and the Recovery
The final version of the recovery bill includes $500 million in funding for green job training projects! (Specific wording: training projects that prepare workers for careers in energy efficiency and renewable energy).
COMING SOON: More information on the what's in the final version of the bill, and how to make the recovery package make a difference in your community.
The Green Jobs Act
The Green Jobs Act funds partnerships that train workers for jobs in
the green economy and has a special focus on creating “green pathways
out of poverty.”
In 2007, Green For All and our allies got the Green Jobs Act signed
into law, authorized for $125 million. President Bush then requested
$0 for it in his budget. Throughout the spring and summer of 2008, we
fought an uphill battle to secure funding for the Act, with some
success. But the new economic and political climate --President Obama's
commitment to green jobs coupled with the need for a massive stimulus
-- has given the Green Jobs Act a boost.
The final version of the recovery bill includes $500 million in funding for green jobs training projects!
