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Rapid implementation of $3B recovery plan starts
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Posted on Mar 24 2009
[B]WASHINGTON, D.C.[/B]—Pledging swift, responsible implementation of President Obama’s economic recovery plan, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar estimated the $3 billion in funding allocated for the department could create as many as 100,000 jobs and stimulate business activity in communities across America.
“With this bold initiative, we are making an investment in conserving America’s timeless treasures—our stunning natural landscapes, our monuments to liberty, the icons of our culture and heritage—while helping working families and their communities prosper again,” Salazar said. “The President has made a commitment to transparency and accountability to the American people for this investment and I am determined to ensure our efforts adhere to those guiding principles.”
Salazar announced that he has established a Recovery Act Task Force that includes the leadership of Interior bureaus to determine which proposed projects should be funded. He also announced that he will soon name a Stimulus Czar to oversee Interior’s responsible implementation of the program. Among the major criteria for selecting projects, Salazar noted, are addressing the department’s highest priority mission needs; generating the largest number of jobs in the shortest period of time; and creating lasting value for the American public.
The department also is developing a web page for public information on the economic recovery plan and by March 3 will begin providing detailed reporting on these efforts through Recovery.gov, the official Administration website on the initiative. [B][I](DOI)[/I][/B]
