Senator Burris Joins with Lieberman, Collins, McCaskill to Amend American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

May 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Roland W. Burris joined Senator Lieberman, Senator Collins, and Senator McCaskill to sponsor S. 1064, a bill that would adjust to the landmark American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The proposed legislation would allow both state and local governments to set aside an amount equal to 0.5% of the total stimulus funds they receive in order to cover the currently unfunded administrative expenditures they incur in the distribution and tracking of stimulus dollars.

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Senator Burris, who served three terms as Comptroller of Illinois, has deep experience in this area, and was the first to draft legislation in the Senate that would join a similar bill moving through the House of Representatives. A member of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, which has jurisdiction over this area, Burris was glad to work with committee Chairman Joseph Lieberman in moving this legislation forward.

“As we all work together to restart this economy, create well-paying jobs, and get people back to work, this common sense legislation will ensure our efforts are not penny-wise and pound-foolish,” said Burris. “With hundreds of billions of federal dollars flowing into states for distribution, this administrative allowance for oversight and transparency is a critical component in making sure stimulus money is directed to the areas where it is needed most, and delivered in the most efficient and expedient way possible.”

As this legislation proceeds toward mark-up, Senator Burris plans to continue to work with Chairman Lieberman to ensure this bill will increase regulation and transparency over how stimulus funds are used. While the current bill allows for the 0.5% administrative set aside to be spent only to “conduct planning and oversight to prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse,” Senator Burris believes more is needed.

Burris’s original draft included language that would ensure that funds are distributed in a prompt and fair manner; are used for authorized purposes; ensure that the use of funds are transparent to the public; ensure that program goals are achieved; and that projects avoid delays and cost over-runs. Senator Burris will continue to advocate for this increased oversight.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was passed by the Democrat-led Congress, and signed into law by President Obama in February, 2009.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: http://www.recovery.gov/

Source: Senator Roland W. Burris