n my weekly e-mails from AUSA ,[ Association of the United States Army** ] some unknown information about the stimulus package.
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The House released details of its economic stimulus package last week. According to the summary, the $825 billion package is the “first crucial step in a concerted effort to create and save 3 to 4 million jobs, jumpstart our economy, and begin the process of transforming it for the 21st century with $275 billion in economic recovery tax cuts and $550 billion in thoughtful and carefully targeted priority investments with unprecedented accountability measures built in.

Of the $825 billion, about $8.8 billion would go to the Defense Department. That includes:

--$350 million for research into using renewable energy to power weapons systems and military bases;
--$3.75 billion for new construction of hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers;
--$455 million in renovations to medical facilities;
--$2.1 billion for repairs to military facilities;
--$1.2 billion for new housing construction;
--$154 million to improve troop housing;
--$360 million for new child development centers;
--$400 million for new construction to support Guard and Reserve unit;
--$4.5 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers for environmental restoration, flood protection, hydropower and navigation infrastructure; and,
--$300 million to clean up closed military installations

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) would receive $950 million for medical facilities and $50 million to make monument and memorial repairs at veterans’ cemeteries.

CQ Today reports that according to House sources, the Defense Department and VA will be able to determine what projects have the highest priority and can be built the fastest and then execute them with the appropriated funds.

Since House Democrats have signaled their intention of sending a final bill to President Obama by Feb. 13, it is expected that the Ways and Means Committee will mark up the measure this week. However, the Senate’s schedule is not so clear.

Senate Finance Committee leaders have yet to release any details about their proposal; therefore, differences between their version and the House version are unknown. Additionally, the Senate has not scheduled any committee mark ups on their bill.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) said she doesn't expect the Senate's stimulus package to be identical to the House legislation but that they "tried to minimize the differences going in."


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http://www.ausa.org/Pages/default.aspx