Dear Governor:
As you know, President Barack Obama will today sign into law H.R.1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, also known as the federal economic stimulus bill. The stimulus bill contains nearly $790 billion in tax cuts and key federal investments, including billions of dollars for infrastructure funding and incentives for job creation in Texas.
Although much of the details are still being learned by Federal, state and local officials, one thing is clear: the Recovery and Reinvestment Act will require prompt and thorough action on the part of Texas. For the next two years, we will have literally hundreds of decisions to make regarding the implementation of this stimulus package to assure protection of tax dollars and prudent investment in our future.
Today, there is one decision that matters most. The Act requires you or the Legislature to formally request investments from the stimulus bill and certify certain matters. There is a 45-day time limit on this request. If not requested, money available for Texas and Texans will go to other states.
I respectfully request that you immediately take the appropriate action under the Act to certify both that Texas will request and use the funds provided for by the Act and that the funds will be used to create jobs and promote economic growth. Because of ongoing deadlines, we do not need to delay acceptance, as there is a great deal of work necessary. If you would prefer to have the Legislature make the acceptance of the funds by concurrent resolution, which is also provided for in the Act, I stand ready to assist in that option. And if this is the case, I would request you designate the Legislature's consideration of the Act an emergency item for this legislative session so we can move the resolution more rapidly through the process.
As chairman of the House Select Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization Funding, I look forward to working closely with your office to assure that these funds are prudently used to benefit the citizens of Texas. Accountability and transparency are also important in this process, and I am interested in your thoughts on achieving those goals as well.
Respectfully,
Jim Dunnam
Chairman of the Select Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization Funding
