The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“STIMULUS SPENDING” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H8430 on July 21, 2009.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
STIMULUS SPENDING
(Mr. OLSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, when Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the administration argued that an $800 billion taxpayer-funded spending spree was necessary to create jobs. It was rushed through with no time to review the policies that would implement this massive spending plan.
The administration sold this spending spree as a jobs creation measure. Yet, it turns out that jobs weren't a priority at all.
A $3.9 billion stimulus funding announcement was made for smart grid investment grants by Vice President Biden in which he stated, ``This is jobs--jobs.''
Well, the Department of Energy didn't seem to get the memo. Application forms for grants asked: ``Will DOE use the number of jobs estimated to be created and/or retained as a criterion for rating a proposal for funding?'' The grant guidance says: ``No.''
Where are the jobs? Job creation was supposed to be the primary requisite for receiving recovery funds, and yet it was simply a reporting requirement. It was never about jobs.
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