TEXAS

txstimulusfund.com

As of October 13, 2009: 

Agency Reported Data:

 

Rank:

Funds Announced

$17,046,697,966

3

Funds Available

$14,821,916,828

3

Funds Paid Out

$5,279,711,598

3

 

 

 

Recipient Reported Data:

 

Rank:

Number of Awards

236

4

Funds Awarded

$534,020,287

9

Funds Awarded Per Capita

$22

36

Funds Received

$47,084,710

16

Jobs Created / Saved

1100

6

Unemployment Rate

8.2

32


Notes: All Rankings are from Highest to Lowest.  For example, a ranking of 15 for “Funds Announced” means that the state had the 15th highest amount of funds announced. A ranking of 15 for the unemployment rate means that this state has the 15th highest unemployment rate.       

Terms defined by http://www.recovery.gov/

Recipient Reported Data: These data are based on data submitted by federal contract recipients to www.federalreporting.gov between Oct. 1 and Oct. 10, 2009.  On Oct. 30, 2009, the final recipient federal contract data and the final data on grants and loans will be available. It is collected and updated quarterly.

Agency Reported Data: These data are based on weekly Financial and Activity Reports filed by federal agencies receiving Recovery Act Funds.

Funds Announced: Funds that have been publicly announced as availableto entities outside of the federal government.  Not all available fundsare announced publicly. For example, the funds going to a project startedprior to the Recovery Act that are commingled with the project’s Recovery fundswill not be announced publicly before being made available to arecipient.  The Funds Announced figure should not be viewed as the totalfunding that an agency has made available.

Funds Available (Obligation): The term used to describe when an agency informs the public of the release of money torecipients either immediately or in the future.  

Funds Awarded: This is the amount of contract dollars that will be made available to recipients. 

Funds Paid Out: Funds that have been released from a federal agency to a recipient. 

Funds Received: The amount of money each recipient received from afederal award.  


Recent Updates:

The Texas Comptroller's Office established a Web site to provide updates and analysis on what the federal economic recovery package means to Texas: www.window.state.tx.us/finances/stimulus.

The Texas Legislature recently created a House Select Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization Funding, which is intended to serve as a regularly updated resource for the citizens of Texas on the ARRA.

Here's a summary of what Texas can expect, according to a document from the state's House Select Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization Funds, though even these are labeled "select" provisions: 

  • Health and Human Services: $5.8 billion.
    Texas would receive $5.4 billion in increased Medicaid payments through 2010, assuming it meets the provisions required for receiving the funds, and $48.7 million for foster care and adoption assistance.

    Texas also would receive $70.8 million for hospitals serving a large number of Medicaid patients, $52.7 million in extended Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grants, $25.7 million in food stamps, and an unknown amount (to be determined by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services) for WIC programs.

    The state also would get $7.9 million for the Senior Nutrition Program, $38.1 million for programs helping people with disabilities gain employment, $32.5 million in grants for families with disabled infants and toddlers, $3.1 million for services for older residents who are blind but could still live independently, $12.8 million for immunizations, an unknown amount for community-based prevention and wellness strategies, and $160.7 million for enforcement of child support.
  • Education: $6.2 billion.
    Texas would receive $1.2 billion for Title I grants that help schools provide supplemental services to disadvantaged children, $1 billion in special education grants, $58.1 million in education technology grants, $3.5 million for ensuring education for homeless children, and $3.9 billion for general schools funding.
  • Transportation: $2.7 billion.
    Texas would receive $2.3 billion in highway and bridge construction funds, of which half must be obligated within six months and the rest within one year of enactment of the bill (early February). The U.S. Department of Transportation will reallocate unobligated funds from other states to those states that can best spend the money by the deadline.

    Texas also would receive $372 million in urban and rural capital transit funds, $2.6 million for rail modernization, and an unknown amount from $10.8 billion in discretionary funds to be awarded nationwide by the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Authority.
  • Labor: $1 billion.
    Texas would receive $214.9 million in Child Care and Development Block Grants to help low-income families pay for child care, $34.7 million to provide assistance to job seekers, $82.8 million to provide support for low-income youth looking to "successfully transition to careers and productive adulthood," $57.5 million to provide support for workers who recently lost their jobs, $28 million for employment services, $38.6 million to improve unemployment insurance operations, and potentially $530.1 million in additional unemployment insurance if the state changes its eligibility requirements - something Gov. Rick Perry opposes.
  • Criminal Justice: $161.7 million.
    Texas would receive $140.6 million in Justice Assistance Grants, of which $56.2 million will be awarded directly to local entities with the rest awarded by the state; $4.2 million for crime-victims assistance programs; $16.1 million in grants for combating violent crimes against women; and $2.9 million in grants to task forces combating Internet crimes against children.
  • Housing and Infrastructure: $957.1 million.
    Texas would receive $48.1 million in community services block grants, $236.2 million for the Texas Weatherization Assistance Program, $148.5 million for HOME programs that help low-income families purchase affordable housing. Housing agencies awarded additional HOME funds must spend at least 75 percent within one year of the bill's enactment.

    Texas also would receive $177.6 million the state's energy program; $181.9 million for grants given by the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which provides money for wastewater projects; $164.8 million for grants given by the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, which provides money for water-system projects; and an unknown amount in grants to repair leaking underground oil-storage tanks.
  • Homeland Security: Unknown.
    The stimulus provides money to protect infrastructure, public transportation, railways and ports, but Texas' allocation isn't yet available.

Executive Branch

March 20, 2009
From the Dallas Morning News (dallasnews.com): Gov. Rick Perry, joining a handful of his fellow Southern Republican leaders, said Thursday that he was rejecting $556 million in federal stimulus money for unemployed Texans because it had too many strings attached.

He said the federal provisions would require unprecedented changes in state rules on who is eligible for unemployment payments. He also argued that the funds – which Democrats say would update benefits so that more women, elderly and student workers could qualify – would place additional burdens on businesses, leaving them to pay the added costs when the federal money ran out.

 

Instead, businesses should be able to use the money to create jobs, Perry said.

 

The announcement, following weeks of speculation about whether Perry would reject part of the massive economic stimulus package, set off charges that the governor was forsaking, for political expediency, about 45,000 Texans who need financial help fast. Conservative and business groups applauded Perry's decision.  Some Democratic lawmakers said they hoped to marshal enough votes to take the money over Perry's objection, though that would be difficult.

 

Estimated Stimulus Impact on Texas

 

State Certification Letter

Press releases

Legislative Branch

April 21, 2009
Last week, the Senate passed a bill to expand unemployment benefits, which would make Texas eligible to accept the unemployment stimulus funds. This move is in direct opposition to Gov. Perry, who has publically rejected that portion of the funds. The bill is now in the House for consideraton.

The Texas Legislature established the House Select Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization Funding to review the details of the legislation.  The Select Committee has also established a Web site  to provide accountability and transparency for Texas taxpayers, and to ensure that stimulus funds are used to invest in the future of the state. 

A legislative proposal would create a new office to monitor and investigate state spending of federal stimulus dollars. The bill was filed on March 10 by House Democratic Leader Jim Dunnam. The measure would create the State Fiscal Responsibility Office to oversee and investigate spending. It would also require monthly status reports on stimulus funds. Dunnam says the Legislature must "protect Texas taxpayer dollars."

Contact
Rep. Jim Dunnam
Chair
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 463-0508

Legislation related to ARRA

  • SB 1569 - Would expand unemployment benefits. Passed in Senate and referred to the House.
  • HB 4922 - Would create the Texas Fiscal Responsibilty Office

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