House Democrats propose tens of billions in new federal programs

An article from the January 19th edition of Federal Times had this to say about a proposed stimulus plan and which Federal agencies it would have a major impact on.

Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee have released details on an $825 billion proposed stimulus plan that promises to pump tens of billions of dollars into a wide array of federal programs.

The programs targeted for big plus-ups oversee everything from food stamps to hazardous waste cleanup, health care, scientific research, park improvements, green buildings and construction projects. Of the $825 billion proposed for economic stimulus, $550 billion would be in the form of new investments while $275 billion would be in the form of tax cuts.

Congressional Democratic leaders have said they want to complete work on the stimulus package by mid-February.

Among the programs targeted for additional funding under the plan:
• $43 billion for increased unemployment benefits and job training programs, administered by the Labor Department.
• $20 billion for additional food stamp benefits, administered by the Agriculture Department.
• $6.7 billion for renovations and repairs to federal buildings, managed by the General Services Administration.
• $600 million to replace older vehicles in the GSA federal fleet with those that use alternative fuels.
• $350 million for Defense Department research on renewable energy that can power weapons systems.
• $3 billion to the National Science Foundation to expand employment opportunities in science and engineering, to build research facilities, and to invest in research equipment shared by universities and other scientists.
• $2 billion for the National Institutes of Health Biomedical Research for studies on Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer and heart diseases, and to improve NIH facilities.
• $462 million for building construction at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• $1.9 billion to the Energy Department for research into high-energy physics, fusion energy and nuclear physics.
• $600 million to NASA for climate change research.
• $900 million to the Health and Human Services Department for pandemic flu preparation; research on countermeasures to biological, chemical and nuclear threats; and cybersecurity protections.
• $600 million to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for satellite acquisition, climate sensor research and climate modeling.
• $300 million to the National Institute of Standards and Technology for research.
• $209 million for the Agricultural Research Service for facilities maintenance.
• $200 million to the U.S. Geological Survey to modernize facilities and equipment.
• $500 million to the Transportation Security Administration for explosives-detection systems.
• $150 million to the Coast Guard to repair or remove bridges deemed hazardous to maritime navigation.
• $500 million to the Social Security Administration to help process disability and retirement claims.
• $245 million to the Farm Service Agency for technology improvements to handle workload increases.
• $44 million to the Agriculture Department for repairs and security improvements to its headquarters.
• $950 million to the Veterans Affairs Department for medical facilities, including repairs and energy efficiency projects.
• $50 million to VA for cemeteries.
• $1.15 billion to GSA and Customs and Border protection for new border points of entry.
• $3.1 billion to the Interior Department for infrastructure projects on federal lands to improve roads and visitor facilities, preserve landmarks and other projects.
• $4.5 billion to the Army Corps of Engineers for environmental restoration, flood protection, hydropower and navigation infrastructure.
• $300 million for the Forest Service’s wildfire reduction programs.
• $500 million to the Bureau of Indian Affairs to address backlogs in maintenance at schools, dams, law enforcement facilities and roads.
• $800 million to the Environmental Protection Agency for Superfund site cleanup.