we have to do better on the first shot. they are getting easy baskets and we have to switch up the defense and keep them off balance. >> you have been physical with gerald lee and shutting him out. is that what you were focussing on? >> exactly. he's a very skilled guy and we have to get to his body and stay with him and try to really be physical with him. i thought our guys had a good half but we have to do ain the

second half. he's a great player. >> we'll be back with the second half in just a moment. it's a 1-point game, old dominion over georgia

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>> bob: old dominion has the possession of the ball to

begin this second half. you see the leading scores on your screen there. we documented that a moment ago and looked at the highlights. old dominion is trying to get inside lead but the whistle sounded before lee got the ball. >> they are trying to get the ball to lee. i am not sure who the third spot. it may be krubally, i think. that is his 3rd foul. >> here's lee taking a shot from the perimeter. lee is their center. he's a good perimeter player. he's 6 of 9. that may be one of the ways that taylor tries to get lee opportunities. >> that's one of the things we asked taylor. the first two options were him to get some type of motion and opportunity to get baskets. >> hampton tried to follow up and scores the first basket of

the game and that's his first shot of the second half. >> 3-point old dominion lead just expanded into a 6-point lead with that triple from james. >> you know what i liked about that play is here you have lee with a guy that's not been scoring. they throw the ball inside. there was a double team. he threw the ball back out and he was able to knock down the 3. >> georgia state won their last two ball games and last year, they beat old dominion here in the game they played in atlanta. dukes on the drive and he has 12 at the break. ali started hot in the second half of the game. dukes from the top of the glass. i heard him call it. i heard him.

>> seeing that dukes has his bank account hours that extended later than usual. this is 14. >> there's a block shot and nicely done. that was krubally that got up there. and they are going to call the foul on it. excuse me, i think they are calling the foul on ali. >> great decision by barnes to leave krubally back in. one of the things that's important to the georgia state team is they start off with the same type of energy they had in the first half. dukes is able to get to the basket and draw a foul. >> bob: that foul was against iliadis. >> we talked about him being able to penetrate. he's able to break down the old dominion guards and get to the basket. you know, dukes is that guy we

talked about in the beginning. 16 points and still 18 minutes to go in the second half. >> bob: here's james. back to a 2-point game now. inside to lee. and we have a travel call. you can see as we were pointing out. they were trying to get that ball to lee. their leading score averages about 18 points per game. you have to give credit to the georgia state defenders on how physical they have been. he's not able to quite finish. lee with that rebound. >> this is relance with the ball to james. nice move, inside. could not finish.

rebound, ali. they tie against and it's a 1-point game at the break. one of the things helping georgia state is they are limiting old dominion to just one shot. old dominion extending that defense now and trying to shoot for the panthers. dukes is going to pull up and miss. loose ball on the floor. if he took it to the rim, he was fouled. he's been a man on fire here, and he'll get 2 shots. that foul is on lee. his first. >> brian: he's come out and being that aggressive. this is a team that fades in the second half. we see lee go out and dukes has been that offense for barnes in the second half.

>> james comes on to the floor for -- goes off the floor for old dominion also. now it's a 1-point game. 15:56 to go here from the sports arena in downtown atlanta. here's de lancey trying to get something inside. the rebound comes to hansbro, who had missed the last four games with a knee injury. obviously better and back in the there prior to that, he started all 25 games for the panthers. number 23 with the ball now. lott on the drive. kick out to dukes. boy, that collapsing defense

does exactly that. that's an offensive foul on fields. >> great ball movement by georgia state. i think you see the penetration by fiel giving chicken wing throughout and any time you draw that contact, they are going to call it offensive foul. >> exactly. you just want to be aware of the chicken. >> that's it. >> dream on, bob. >> bob: all right. here is neely from the top. he draws the foul as he put it is ball back up. it's going to be on hampton. his second.

>> brian: if you're barnes, you want to exploit that matchup like the first half. >> dukes with 17 points leading all scorers. lott and goldston, trying to get a shot, somehow, some way. . excellent defense play by old

dominion. here's neely. >> brian: neely can shoot that mid range jumper. the old dominion team playing good defense and they try to take advantage of that in transition. >> bob: that was a great play by lott. they didn't have any place to go. you saw the handoff and lott being able to get in and draw that foul. great opportunity going into the line for two. >> bob: getting more opportunities in the second half. georgia state was at the line only twice in the first half. they hit them both.

4 free-throws here in this half now. but they are only 1 for 4 from the line. >> brian: those are the missed opportunities at the end of the game that can make the difference of a victory or a loss. you have to try to knock down those shots because it's giving them the opportunities to take the leads. >> georgia state is 69% free-throw shooting team. not bad. it's a 4-point game here for panthers, looking at the wrong end of the 44-40 score.

there's an air ball put up there by james and defects the turnover. ali thought about the 3 and stepped inside for the mid range jumper and didn't get it. hampton put it back and he was fouled. >> brian: that was two great plays. georgia state was able to extend their defense and they basically took old dominion and you see the second effort by hampton being able to draw that foul. it's something that's playing in their favor as he tries to cut into the 4-point lead. >> hampton gets to the lead. but they have not been able to cash in on these free-throw opportunities and here's hampton

missing. he's an 80% free-throw shooter. this is their home gym. you expect that from him. he gets 1 out of 2. >> hampton with 11 points. here's your center bringing it down. sometimes that defense full court is not so much for a steal but float him down. another turnover and that's what this defense is designed to do. he's all over the floor and he gets an opportunity to put up that three and it's in and out of there.

he had to shoot it over lee. this is the line drive 3-point attempt. the ball rolls along. old dominion is 1 of the last 7 from the floor. you have to credit georgia state in their defense. these are two good defensive teams. one of the things that georgia state is having in the past is their inability to score. they have been able to answer that and come back in. they have been able to go and that's kept them in this game and put them in a position. old dominion is leading by 3. 12:50 to go in the second half in downtown atlanta. nice ball inside. gerald lee couldn't handle it and dukes on the run for the panthers.

there's ali for 3. this game is tied at 44. great half for the offense. >> brian: old dominion calls a time out with this game tied at 44. >> 7th time the game has been tied. we'll be back here at the sports arena in downtown atlanta right after this bre n ] ha cal

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>> bob: 52-49, old dominion leading here.

>> brian: they have had a fabulous team. that's a 7-0 run for old dominion during last minute and a half. they have the 4-point lead here after georgia state led by 3 at 49-46. dukes defended. james on goldston. gold on the has been really covered tonight. >> big rebound by hampton but he can't hold onto it and carter pulls it down for the old dominion team.

>> brian: he's struggled all night because he's not gotten a clear look. defenders are doing a wonderful job of chasing him off the 3. >> bob: he's 0 for 5 tonight. how about carter's ability to stretch the defense. if i was barnes, i would try to continue to give him that opening to penetrate because

he's been successful tonight. >> dukes is out to fields over to lott. georgia state trails by 5. plenty of time to shoot and 1 on the shot clock. hampton tries to feed it inside to lott. lott cow not finish. rebound comes into the arms of bazemore. bazemore is a red shirt sophomore. told ball out and got penetration. lee comes away with the loose ball. >> brian: it seemed like lee wasn't paying attention. i think you see him not being happy with his defense and how they are working the offense.

we have a time out on the floor. old dominion is leading by 5. georgia state had their last lead at 49-46. here's bazemore. and the basket counts and the foul. i guess great play coming out of

the time out. they are able to get the ball for lee. i think that's the 4th foul on krubally. we're going to see ali come in. and that's one of the things they have been able to do. running a set play and getting the ball inside the lead. lee hits the free-throw and it's an 8-point lead for the old dominion team. at this point of the game, one of the reasons old dominion has won so many games, 21 games overall, they have great depth. they start to wear you down.

here is lott. he's going to drive and kick. ali. georgia state can't buy a bucket. this is a 13-2 old dominion run. >> well, old dominion is on a run. with that depth, it's something they wear you down and you see the transition and you see the great play by james being able to find the ball over the bazemore. this is one of the things where you put the runs on you and they are on a run. hopefully georgia state can regroup and get some points. i am wondering if they are getting tired. >> >> georgia state is only one field goal in the last 15

minutes. when you look down the list, you see a lot of guys on the list with five and six rebounds. they rebound at 39 per game. you have one guy that's having a really good night and you have a lot of other guys to pick up the slack. it's something we have seen early on. >> bazemore picked him up in the first half. how about that hustle? bazemore diving to get that loose ball. that's 9 turnovers for georgia state now as they trail by 10, old dominion with the ball and the clock is becoming a big

factor. 4:23 remaining. >> bob: georgia state is shooting 32% on the field goal range. there is james with fields. there's bazemore. shot clock at 6. there's 3, 2, 1. that will count. that is 4 out of 4 from beyond the mark for carter tonight. carter is a big forward. >> brian: you know, georgia state plays very good defense. remember, here is hampton scoring. georgia state led with 49-46. until that basket, georgia state had scored only one field goal since that time. now it's 2 and it's 64-53 be 3:44 to go. barnes is coaching and teaching

here at the time out. >> brian: we talked about that with georgia state, but you see it's great play. that's great discipline. this is the team that has tremendous discipline on offense and not panicking and using the clock. great play by james and great finish by carter. >> he had 19 3-pointers all season and carter has already hit 4 tonight. he's largely responsible for the 11-point lead here. both teams committed 7 fouls each. you're not in a rush at this

point. the clock is your friend. you want to run some time. >> bob: old dominion is handling the ball. hampton is defending lee. you want to get it out of his hands. there's bazemore pulling up at the elbow. missing and rebounded. krubally is playing the fouls by the way. pick pocket. first, a foul is called. it's on goldston. bazemore will go thereto 3-point line. we have a time out on the floor. @ ah! ss yback

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>> brian: this is an old dominion team that lives and dies by their defense. they wore georgia state down. so much of their opportunities in the second half has come over from turnovers and steals being able to get in transition. george jornl state has been able to come up with only two field goals in the last 6 minutes. 2:33 to go in this one. struggling to get an open look. shot clock is down to 10. duke social security going to try to work and get his own. he got the ball to krubally who lays it in. it's a 9-point game.

>> bob: all right. they are working on the scoreboard with 2:18 to go. it's a 9-point old dominion lead. they are working on that right now. it's not 64-24. this is 64-55.

now they have the scoreboard fixed, thank goodness. i was all conference in that. >> brian: i believe that. >> bob: i've got a bridge that says it too. break out attempt by old dominion. nice save by penny. that ball is flying all over the place. >> how about the energy of old dominion being able to take down the ball that was out of bounds. save it. have another one of their players and they did not think. that's the energy for tonight 's game. they basically wore down georgia state with their depth and their energy. >> it's been a big game for bazemore. lee has been quiet tonight for old dominion. only 12 total in the game right now as he goes to the line again

with 2:09 remaining. georgia state is not hanging it up yet. 1:55 to go. old dominion is going to call a time out. >> definitely one of the thing that is helps you. being able to score points very quickly. dukes is able to flow by and get that basket. the quicker you can score, the quicker you have the opportunity. it's a little less than 2 minutes. georgia state is not giving up. dukes now with 22 points in this ball game. dukes has been fishing the ball to his teammates the last several games and he had 37 assists. but tonight, with the sxoen pressure defendant with old dominion, dukes has had to take

on the scoring himself and he's done a good job with it. 1:55 to go in the game. it's a 7-point lead. panthers are going to apply full court pressure here. >> that was one of the ways that georgia state was able to make a run. they extended their pressure on old dominion. interesting to see how they will be able to handle this and score turnovers. >> just about got one. they did get one. the time out was called by fields as he hit the floor right in front of our table. his head his the floor too. let hope the young man will be okay. he made the steal and fell on his head and called time out. >> talk about toughness. they extended their pressure. you time out while he's holding it.

hopefully he's okay. trainer islooking at him. it looks like -- i am not sure what happened here but he got the time out called. tremendous play by fields. maybe he fell on his hip or lower back. 1:47 to go and georgia state is not hanging it up yet. >> you talk about 7 points down. that's an awful lot of time. they come out with three and you talk about a 4-point game and it's a little less than 2 minutes. old dominion is this an important game? georgia state has only 5 of 11 in caa.

yes, it is important. it's important in a lot of ways. >> brian: as you get towards the end of the season, you don't want to take the chances of finishing off your season in jeopardy. >> bob: dukes is looking for the baseline. in trouble with the double team. loose ball in the hands of old dominion. too much dribbling going on on the baseline for dukes and couldn't find any help. he knew what he had in mind but he couldn't get it developed.

he goes into lee and misses it. bazemore has picked up the slack for lee off of that lee miss. he gets the foot back and he has 14. >> brian: how about the george of bazemore? one minute to go. hampton had 17. 39 of the 59 georgia state points have been scored by dukes or hampton in this game. that foul was on krubally. that's the last time he'll be on the floor. hoos a senior and this is the last home game for the georgia

state panthers. >> bob: his parents are from africa and moved to finland and he went to high school in finland. >> brian:

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6' 8, 8 1/2, can do it all. i mean when i say do it all and do it gracefully. i mean with the greatest of ease. >> benji will, so his game and personality were -- wilson, his

game and personality were electric, a future star in the nba until one morning when everything changed. get an inside glimpse at the man the nfl mayors have chosen to lead them in -- players have chosen to lead them in the fighnewtive rgaient. 'll uce emar ith. >> t our stin >> and a truy th abou inws tvie' hello and welcome to this edition of net impact. we've seen nfl commissioner roger goodell and nfl players association executive director

demaris smith exchanging pleasantries through the media and have even been in front of congress as the two sides attempt a collective bargaining agreement and as they do so the atmosphere will get more tense. we know goodell he's within on the job three years now but who is this man that the players have chosen to be their voice in this turbulent time? here's comcast sportsnet's mid- atlantic's jill sorenson. >> for our last practice we could play head coach. >> yea! >> we do head coach. >> reporter: this is fun for demaris smith the executive director of the nfl players association by day and a coach for his 10-year-old son allen and his baseball team in silver vince, maryland, by night. >> tag -- in silver springs, maryland, by night. >> tag him! >> reporter: the intensity and passion you see here is smith's day job as union smith named

the successor to the late and edge legendary gene upshaw in march, the man everyone calls dean has not slowed down. >> i've been on the job six months. i've probably been on the road three and a half, four months solid. >> reporter: he was seen as an outsider to get the job with former players as the front runners. his background as a trial lawyer was far from the experience of an nfl player. >> i definitely think that's a positive that he was an outsider, you know, guy coming in, he doesn't have all the connections or, you know, any preconceived notions of what was happening before and, you know, can he come in and kind of look at things clearly. >> i'm very confident. i'm confident, that you know, he can get things done, whatever that may be. he's presented himself in such a way and i think he's broken it down to the players in such a way that we can understand it. >> reporter: as much as he's an outsider d. is a d.c. insider having grown up a stone's throw from fedex field. >> you come out of the room in

d.c. and get smacked and then you're injected with burgundy and gold. >> reporter: on his resume counsel to then deputy attorney general eric holder and he also served on president obama's transition team. >> business worldwide in some way, shape or form always touches washington. it's one heck of a sports town. so yeah, those are things that are inextricably tied to who i am. does it affect what i do? probably. but hopefully affects it for the better. >> reporter: with the possible lockout on the horizon demorris smith has made it a priority to visit each team to help them understand the process. >> this was in one of the file drawers in our office and it slowly but surely i'm going through every drawer, every cabinet. >> reporter: why? >> a great deal of our history on what we have done internally to be a stronger union is there. the one thing i'm blessed about is gene was an incredible note taker. here on the back he'd clearly

written out in longhand a speech that i don't know whether he gave or was going to give, but the most interesting part at the bottom is you see it in quotes, the nfl has always been willing to take a short loss for a long term gain. >> reporter: in the midst of negotiations or perhaps because of them d. and the union have made national headlines on a regular basis. >> as executive director, my no. 1 priority is to protect those who play and have played this game. to me it is probably a little bit of a combination of half negotiation, half trial lawyer. i mean both of those things are things that are in my dna for some way, shape or form. i think about my grandfather in the pulpit. there's probably a little bit of that, too. as a result, i'm really not afraid of my question. i want guys to be actively involved. truth be told, i probably lean on them in a very hard way, but this is their union.

it's not my union. it's their union. >> reporter: always in the line of fire demorris smith is used to the heat. >> i thought that was a -- 17-year-old ben benji wilson was a rising star, a young basketball phenom with a definite nba future. in fact, in 1984 wilson was the no. 1 ranked high school basketball player in the nation. he'd been described as a magic johnson with a jump shot and kevin garnett with a better handle of the ball and a better perimeter game. luke stuckmeyer of comcast sportsnet chicago shows us wilson's wizardry on the court. >> reporter: chicago may be a football town and baseball crazy in summertime, but at its core in the city basketball is a way of life. we're not just talking about the m.j. glory days. we're talking about the kids who built their games here like

isiah thomas on the west side and more recently dwayne wade and derrick rose on the south side, but 25 years ago somebody else owned these courts in chicago, a skinny silky kid with a smile named benji. >> and center for the wolverines a junior, 6' 7, no. 25 ben wilson. >> if you haven't seen him, you're in for a treat, 20 a game. >> i would go and i want to be successful and i do what it takes to be successful and that is when i go home i study and do my work and go to class. >> kind of corny stuff. >> well, it works. >> reporter: everything seemed to work for benjamin wilson, but especially basketball. >> wilson two. >> reporter: born and raised on the city's south side, he was the middle of five brothers and it wasn't long before that orange rock was the fiber of his life. >> looked like bruce lee with

two basketballs. he approached the basketball hoops. just unbelievable what he could do with that ball three fingers pawning the ball like this. >> reporter: and with ben and his ball around the wilson's neighbors were always up early. >> the neighbors used to be furious about being woke up in the morning because he was always dribbling the basketball and one of the next-door neighbors mr. robertson said benji was the alarm clock to get him up and go to work in the morning. >> reporter: by 16 wilson could still play like a point guard but now he soared like an eagle with his new 7' 3 wingspan. >> bankston drops it down to wilson for a turnaround. >> we used to imitate ben when he shoots his jump shot. it was like he'll shoot it and then put his wrist back like this and run down the court but everybody used to emulate him

in high school. that's how big he was in high school. >> reporter: and everybody wanted to be around him. benji's game and personality drew in friends and admirers from all over including the nba. >> ben wilson steps in, scores. >> 6' 8, 8 1/2, can do it all. i mean when i say do it all and do it gracefully. i mean with the greatest of ease. i mean and it looks so pretty when he was doing it. i mean it was smooth. it was silky. it was just you had to -- he had that camera that captured that moment. i mean he was that type of player. >> wilson slide down the lane. >> reporter: as a junior he was a starter on a lineup full of seniors. benji was third team all state

and the wolverines went 30-1 for the 2a state title. that put simeon on the map. >> i think he helped push simeon into a more global nationwide type school, basketball power. i remember our senior year, you know, we thought we were world beaters, we could go anywhere and play anybody any time. >> reporter: after winning the state championship in the spring of 1984 ben kept improving stunning scouts at the nike all american camp. he left as the first kid from illinois to ever be ranked as a no. 1 player in the entire country. >> he was clearly, clearly benjamin wilson was the no. 1 player in the country. no one came close. >> reporter: ahead how benji wilson's life changed in less than a second.

>> ben's thumb was rising and then at midday. >> reporter: a horrific crime on these streets in chicago is remembered 25 years later.

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here's comcast sportsnet's bay area's brody brazil to show us. >> reporter: this is the side of eric heitmann people know, an offensive lineman for the 49ers since 2002. and this is the side most would never expect, at 6' 3 315 pounds he's got the frame of a football behemoth with the hands of a beethoven. >> my mom made me take lessons about 10, 11 years growing up as a kid. right around when i started playing football, football became more of a focus for me and piano you put on the back burner a little bit. it was always secondary for me, always a hobby but something that i always kept up. >> reporter: inside his home today heitmann employs both a piano and keyboard setup inner it connected with the apple program garage band. it is here where the stanford graduate composes his best work in the form of cinematic sound

scapes. >> my style is more of a movie classical theme sounding stuff i guess i would characterize it. >> so dramatic it plays well essentially. it's dynamic. >> yeah. i'd like to think that. you guys can be the judge. >> reporter: while football is the profession and composition is the passion, it's the music that gives eric an escape from life when he needs it. >> i'll be home sunday night or after a big game and maybe there's something you need to crank out on the piano to kind of relieve some emotions or something. i use it as an escape. it's a good way to kind of release frustration or whatever emotions you're feeling at the time. it's something i've done for so long, you know, i've played for so long i don't ever really want to let it go at this point. i enjoy playing and i'm going to keep doing it as long as i can. >> reporter: it's only natural to expect eric's musical endeavors will outlast his football career, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's planning for a future behind the keyboard. >> you never know.

we'll see at some point maybe if there's something you can put out there. i'd love to get in a recording studio at some point, maybe not for profit, just something i could show my kids at some point. i'll continue to do this for as long as i can. >> reporter: brody brazil, comcast sportsnet. >> he's pretty good. his team's not doing bad either. that's going to do it for this edition of net impact. i'm your host and for all of us thanks for watching, see you again next month. www.evertz.c

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oregon, and both organizations have offered a graduate classes. in conclusion we were interested with a significant increase in funding to support the construction and modernization of high performance screen buildings, the men and women in the gsa have risen to the challenge and we look forward to working with you and members of the committee as we continue to deliver this work. 64 for a much for that report. it's good to see the very consistent and speed up implementation of the gsa which was often a slow start compared to other agencies but u.s. made up the time and have a good report and we will come back with questions later. ms. darcy. >> mr. chairman, members of the committee. thank you for the opportunity to testify to discuss the implementation of the civil works appropriation within the

recovery act. if i may i will summarize my statement and ask the michael stich would be a trip to the record. >> all statements will be included in full. >> recovery act includes funds to put our fellow citizens to work and help in the recovery of the nation's economy. the accomplishment of the corps of engineers of all works project through the recovery act funding has begun and continues to contribute to the nation's safety, because the environment and quality-of-life. the recovery act provides funding to the core to accomplish these goals to the development and restoration of the nation's water and related resources. total discretionary funding for civil works and recovery act is $4.6 billion. the course following the principles to manage and expend funds to achieve the stated purposes including commencing expenditures and activities as quickly as possible consistent with prudent management and the president's intent to apply merit based principles to use

the principles with long-term benefits to the nation. nearly all of the $4.6 billion appropriated for the civil works has been identified for specific civil works project activities. as of february 16th, financial obligations totaled just over $3 billion. as of that date, outlays totaled $930 million which is updated from the numbers in my completed stated. there are 830 civil works projects across 49 states and also in both puerto rico and washington, d.c.. but the recovery at projects carried out by the -- excuse me, among those being carried out by the corps are to wondered 84 navigation projects, 300 for flood risk management projects, 143 environmental restoration projects, on injured 48 in a vital infrastructure projects, and 35 hydropower projects as well as inspections of 820 levees. about 74% of the corps actions

have been awarded to small businesses and approximately 46% of the total dollar value has been awarded to small businesses. in addition we are continuing to encourage the larger companies receiving the civil works contracts to local small businesses us subcontractors. for the civil works program, stimulus affects begin with contract award because that is when the contractor begins to hire the workers, or the material and equipment and take other steps to complete the work creating ripples through the economy. as the result stimulus impacts for the projects are closely related to the obligation recovery funds primarily through contract awards rather than subsequent outlays to provide payments to contractors for work the already have completed or for supplies and equipment they already have purchased. the official residence for the system contractors reported that the civil works recovery act contracts supported 6,047 jobs in just the last quarter.

in addition to these jobs, the recovery act investment this support numerous indirect jobs and industries supply you materials and equipment. on february 19th i was pleased to attend the groundbreaking ceremony commemorating the new construction work made possible by the recovery act. at locks and dams number four and pennsylvania. along the monongahela river which is and former congressman its district. should the workers of the royce and 92 by congress because aging navigation locks and dams and shell rock elizabeth and braddock pennsylvania were crumbling and dangerous. the locks and dams to represent a major federal investment over a number of years. the additional funding made available to the act will promote the corks to complete construction of the critical looked walls by 2011. sue dear than would otherwise have been possible. unfortunately, this and murtha wasn't there but i think he would be pleased. thank you for the opportunity to

testify and i look forward to answering questions. >> thank you for the reference to the different and former colleague jack murtha whose accomplishments are at large and who we remember for many things but one in particular at the end of the cold war era i talked about shifting some of those received defense dollars to breast cancer research and within the appropriations committee he was able to do that and the budget went from $35 million to $300 million many women's lives are saved because not all the accelerated research on breast cancer but also the

education programs that have been funded by that savings from the cold war peace dividend. had that information then available 15 years earlier i might not have lost my wife. mr. fernandez. -- before, german oberstar ranking member micah and members of the committee. i appreciate the opportunity to testify on behalf of commerce economic to the limit administration. i've been asked to provide you with an update on the progress regarding the eda's recovery at projects. i'm pleased to report many communities are hit hard by the economic recession are already putting the funds to work breaking ground, hiring workers and leveraging significant private investment. speed received $150 million in recovery act funding. by the end of september, a full

year ahead of schedule we obligated 100% of the allocations funding 68 projects in 37 states we invested $50 million to promote the development of regional information clusters, 37 million to promote business incubation, 27 million to promote green jobs and 11 million to promote global trade. our investments range from a small $184,000 up to $6.4 million. these projects target a wide range of economically distressed and underserved communities. we target project that assist communities as they built up their local assets and infrastructure to strengthen their regional economy and enhance their global economic competitiveness. eda awarded $141 million or about 96% of total recovery act

funds investment project. our investments are expected to leverage possibly $981 million in private investment over the next few years. committee staff has a complete list of all of our speed recovery projects that go into great detail in terms of the project description job creation numbers and private leverage. today 41 per cent of eda's projects are already under way. these projects represent about $50 million or 34% of total location. i am pleased to report today nearly all of our projects within the eda portfolio have met anticipated construction start dates and other project implementation milestones. we've been encouraged that some of our projects in fact started ahead of schedule. the recovery act requires new measures for unprecedented accountability and transparency

with our regional offices we develop specific outreach initiatives to assist our recess the partners in meeting these additional reporting requirements. at the end of the second reporting period 100% of the speed's grant recipients have successfully report on the progress. our investments report a diverse mix of economic to limit activities that are proven to be an effective way of creating long-term economic stability and job growth. simply put, we know what works and that is why we are particularly focused on investments that support regional, collaborative and innovation strategies. eda's ability to successfully implement recovery act should be no surprise to those familiar with the agency. in part, our success is due to the fact that eda has a tremendous experience working with national network of local and state economic development

professionals. this bottom-up approach to economic development is a key strength of the programs. historical the speed's program investments have been deficient. speed investment survey catechetical in local communities. the number of jobs created in the amount of private sector investment leverage continue to be quite strong. so the chairman and others on the committee we've had a long-term and very successful relationship working with this committee. we remain eager to work with you to help our country recover from its economic recession and as we prepare for reauthorization we certainly will look forward to working with the committee to develop a stronger framework for sustainable economic development. if the members of the committee chairman and ranking member micah and others what to say thank you for the opportunity to testify and i look forward to answering any questions.

>> thank you, mr. fernandez. now mr. -- >> thank you for the opportunity to speak on the coast guard's progress in executing the funds received and the reinvestment act. the two entered $40 million appropriated in the coast guard act is allowing us to address critical projects and alteration of bridges program, selected shore facility projects as well as help sustain the operation of the high endurance cutters. recovery act funding is providing an sycophant impact in each of these programs to support a hard-working guardians and ultimately the american people. $142 million designated for the alteration of the bridges address is significant obstructions to the navigation and it's critical to improve the safe and efficient movement of people and commerce to the communities of mobile alabama,

joliet illinois, burlington on what and galveston texas. once the bridge projects are complete, they will provide an estimated $18 million of annual commercial benefit in and around these communities. additionally, construction on these bridges leverage as the over $120 million previously appropriated for these projects. without recovery act funding undertaking these projects would not have been possible until additional appropriations were made. today the funding for all four projects has been obligated and three construction contracts have been awarded. a second bid solicitation for construction of the galveston causeway is expected to be under contract in early april. the three bridges under the contract are moving along well. but contractors working on each of the project as we meet here today. the recipients reporting indicates the creating retained 65 jobs in the projects.

in addition to discussions with the burlington bridge contractor indicates there has been at least 37 and reported jobs created or sustained indirectly through the building and manufacturing of supplies critical for the project. direct on-site work for all these bridges will be increasing as the spring approaches. the $88 million appropriated for the coast guard construction includes critical projects such as building houses and barracks for personnel where no suitable affordable housing exist. shrek products include revitalizing more facilities and shop buildings. once complete these will allow us to better execute missions. so far we have awarded contracts on four of the seven projects and obligated over $12 million that represents 14% of the construction funds and is consistent with the original planning. the contract in aspect for each

of these projects have had their challenges. most significantly we plan to utilize the national multi award construction contract for five of the seven projects. but that contract award was protested. as a result we are pursuing individual contracts for each project. currently all contracts have been awarded, all contracts that have been awarded along with those yet to be a word or intended for small business set-aside programs. the $10 million appropriated for engineering changes on the high endurance cutters is leverage to upgrade critical pieces of equipment that most commonly contribute to make casualty's that adversely impact operations these are some of our oldest and hardest working ships which the crews continue to struggle to keep operational. these upgrades will go along way to helping their efforts. for a civil one of the projects were placing the onboard boilers which have become difficult to maintain as indicated by over 200 casualties in the past ten

years across the fleet. without doing something for the absolutely critical systems the ships would continue to lose operational days due to casualties. in fact the coast guard hamilton which recently completed its upgrade was supporting operations off the coast. hamilton has since been relieved by the balance. contracts have been awarded for the four of the seven high endurance cutters engineering changes with the goal of obligating all by the end of april. all of the projects are also benefiting the important repairing industry. mr. chairman all of these projects will facilitate the mission's accomplishments to best serve the american public. our contract and staff engineers and project managers continue to aggressively pursue the execution of these projects in support of the intent of the act. i would like to thank the committee for the support of the coast guard and have an opportunity to testify today. i'm pleased to answer your questions. thank you. >> thank you very much.

mr. roh carper. >> thank you, ranking member micah for the opportunity to testify. i would like to give a quick summary of what we plan to do and where we are today and where we plan to go -- >> can you speak a little bit closer to the microphone. >> is that better? >> amtrak was as university of $133 billion in american recovery reinvestment act of 2009 grant funding. as i speak more than $1 billion worth of projects are underway and i expect when the deadline arrives in february of 2011 we will have completed the significant part of the eight bridges come improvement and repair of 38 and truck facilities and 270 stations and return of 81 stored and damaged cars and 15 locomotive to service. through the process we have pursued three importance of securing the objectives. to ensure we get the best possible value for the money to

get as much -- as possible done with the alloted time and make the spending process as transparent as possible with the important and overriding focus of creating jobs. the federal railroad administration has approved more than 99% of the total funding and we expect to make the bulk of outlays in 2010. we are reporting to and meeting with on a weekly basis contracting with them far more frequently as we work for the current contracting process. about 49% of the funding that's gone on under and the north east corner projects while the remaining 51% is been distributed across the national system. as of february 22nd we have rewarded for hundred 14 contracts with a total dollar value of $722.8 million. interest in the fleet the mechanical department intends to return a total of 81 cars and 15 locomotives to surface with the funding through the first

rehabilitated car rolled off the line at our shops in delaware on july 13th, not quite five months after the president signed aero into law. when this program is complete, we will have added enough equipment for roughly ten additional trains with several engines to spare. ten trains that will allow us to grow revenue in the writer ship. amtrak has already created more than 600 full-time equivalent positions as it resulted. working on everything from replacing the tides and reels in the yard and miles michigan to declare brushing deadfall and cutting back overhanging trees along all three divisions of the northeast corridor. this cleanup program is combined with other ongoing efforts to reduce the number of incidents that affect the electric traction system. the cleanup of this kind is long overdue and is contributed to improvements on the trade performance. another part of this year stories stations. many of these projects will be station improvements associated with mobility first program.

of station accessibility that includes $38 billion of the funding. and all we will invest a total of $144 million from all of the funding sources and fy tend to address the compliance of the stations with the americans with disabilities act. for too long the lack of funding and dirty ability to make station improvements. five years is the goal for the stations to be compliant. examples are wilmington delaware in the projects that are already underway, on schedule and within budget. many of these projects are ideal for small businesses and spread all over the country. 45% of the contracts we have awarded have gone to small businesses to really lead to the groundwork for the productive year and i'm confident we will bring the work it on time. i want to close again by noting we've created more than 600 full-time equivalents in the work force plus a growing number

of jobs and vendor created jobs. we are putting them to work building much-needed capacity and infrastructure improvements. this process has helped prepare for larger projects and we expect to undertake in the future and it's helped to build a better and transparent railroad. thank you for the opportunity and i look forward to taking some questions. >> thank you. we will begin the first round of questioning now and my question will go to the deputy secretary party. do you feel requiring states to 50% of the highway and bridge funding within 120 days of receiving the apportionment was a good idea and i ask that because some of my state felt this requirement lead to short-term construction projects that didn't yield long-term jobs and i would like to know if you agree. >> it's a good question. i do believe it made sense to

have the 50% obligation requirement within the first 120 days and just to give the committee the sense of where i'm coming from in the early part of the recovery act i was a state dot secretary delivering projects under the recovery act. what tended to happen was you're truly schoeppel ready projects ready to go you've got out the door as quickly as possible putting people to work as quickly as possible as we are in the latter part of the recovery act project right now. what we are seeing are larger more complicated projects that couldn't move on the same timeframe but if you would run the country you are seeing a number of the larger projects now so i think it is a good combination of immediately getting people out to work. the recovery part of this, and also a larger projects that create jobs to be a little bit longer to get out the door called the reinvestment part if you will of the bill i think is a good balance.

>> if by chance a second stimulus you feel you have a vision of how to require the states and agencies to comply with another time frame. >> yes, ma'am. we believe the time frames that are in the legislation are pretty good ones. we've been working with state and local partners. i mentioned earlier that we have met every decline so far. we expect to continue to do that. i will tell you for the march 1st deadline for the federal highways as of today we already have 30 states at 100 resin obligation and 90% or above to read the rest will make it by march 1st. likewise, we believe every one of the transit recipients will meet the march 5th deadline for that. the system that we use which is

our existing reimburse process is one of the states and the transit agency's understand for going forward in a jobs bill any further investment in the trepidation infrastructure if they work the same way we expect to get the same results. cynics before very much. mr. micah. >> thank you. i have a question to follow up before our deputy secretary of transportation. i guess that the purpose of the tiger discretionary grants was as you said to try to create jobs in our most economically depressed area as soon as possible. these jobs had to be schoeppel ready for ready to employee folks; is that correct? >> yes, it is correct. there's a separate time frame as you know for the tiger discretionary grants and -- >> so there were thousands of

these submitted, and did you rank them and then was there any consideration of unemployment or economic situation in the state's? >> yes, sir it was explicitly one of the things we looked at. i will tell you of the awards, and there is tremendous demand, we had over 1400 tygart applications, $60 billion of applications for 1.5 billion projects. >> my question deals with i have enough further slide, the bigger one that shows the awards for the tiger grants and about 1.5 billion in discretionary money spent. the top of the list to see the lowest unemployment, 141 million went to states with below 6.9% of unemployment. that to me doesn't make sense.

now take the charge of the ten states with the highest unemployment. we have a separate chart. pull that out so it's bigger. the second chart. okay. now of course as a member from florida there are certain things that stand out in this tiger granted distribution will chart which madame chair i would like both of these to be made part of the record. >> without objection. >> thank you. this one sort of baffles me, and then i thought well maybe florida didn't apply. i tried to figure out some of the reasoning, and i founded fact florida had 115 project requests from florida receiving or asking for a total of 4.2 billion pure of the florida department of transportation

alone requested for projects totaling 287 million, and i've got zero. now we have the 11.8 per cent unemployment. i really would like you to submit to the kennedy, too come if you could, any of the paperwork and the evaluation process. now, i know that you put these on line, and i appreciate that transparency. but somewhere something doesn't click. and i thought well, maybe florida. they got some high-speed rail money. 1.1 billion. that is and immediate. that's going to be years before that money is actually spent. we don't even have the commission to get there were finalized plans, and i thought well illinois got 1.1 and 1.2 or something about 2.3 billion towards passenger rail, and they got on hundred 20 million then i see the lowest on a plan is

states, under 6.9, getting the tiger discretionary. somehow it doesn't appear that it's targeted to the states, and then we look at the amounts of going there. so, somehow this doesn't clich in my mind. it's been it's a great question i would be happy to answer -- >> and i would like the background, too. of the evaluation process. because how florida could not have one project ready to go and be in the top ten on employment -- senator nelson has also directed inquiry to the secretary on this matter -- but somehow we got screwed in this process, and i want to find out how and why. i mean, it's just, you know, it's just unconscionable that we would be in the top ten and have states with half the unemployment getting these discretionary grants for economic recovery and targeted.

mr. carper -- >> i would be happy to answer that if he would like. >> well, again i would like to see -- if you could submit for the record i don't have a whole lot of time. i don't want to take the kennedy -- >> we will submit the criteria. i would also say that of the tiger awards 60% went to economically distressed areas which is far in excess of the nationwide distribution. i would think -- >> if you ask the members of congress what you like to go to economically distressed areas, i would like to see it in the 90%, 95%, in that range. 60% is nice, but you tell that to people standing in line -- i was on the phone this morning with a father whose son was released from the united states military with a medical disability and can't get a job. and i can tell him -- and this kid has been out of the military

and can't find even menial work so again this first reading from our standpoint. but right now, to know, you're trying to do the best you can. but i would like to see those records, and i think senator nelson blood, too -- senator nelson would, too. mr. carper, you were a recipient of -- there are 78 high speed and so called high-speed and passenger rail grants you were a recipient i think amtrak will participate in over 70. i think it is somewhere in the 76 range project, right? of the 78 you are going to purchase of a and 76 of them according to our committee staff evaluation and we do have an evaluation of those i would like to be made part of the record with a full list we have evaluated. spry can't give you an exact

number -- >> i'm just telling you the committee staff, the rail stuff -- we will submit that for the record. if you have a dispute that i can tell you it's under 76 out of 78. .. i think we should have the

transparency and executive and administrative earmarks. and today i'm going to declare war on agencies who make determinations for rewarding greens behind closed doors, at least where elected officials, at least where elected officials. and i'm not picking on the obama administration. remember when we fail to pass an appropriations measure for transportation appropriations to members that were year. some of you were here. there are 1155 your march that went before a committee. we put on display -- they were provided by an elected member of congress to the congressional process, passed in the house of representatives, open to the public. in the bush administration, when we fail to determine how that $800 million was to be spent, to have money and behind closed doors, the arrogant bush administration folks put it on five projects of their choice

with no hearing, no public records. now with the obama administration is going to do the same thing, i'm declaring war on executive earmarks today. i want to open and transparent. and if it's fra, it should be where members of congress and we deserve to know and the american public deserves to know. so i guess that's my speech for the morning. you don't have to answer, mr. carper. but it's not totally your responsibility. fra is mightier for me to bash this morning, but i do want that online and i will demand it and i'm going to write a letter and ask ms. your oberstar, ms. brown, mr. shuster to find and correct it. >> mr. congressman, if i might, i perhaps misunderstood the question or was i thinking clearly. the numbers that we referred to i believe are projects that were requested by the states and they likely will be rnr service

centerline. >> again, between fra, amtrak is the recipient. finally, mr. peck, good morning, mr. peck. sorry you couldn't get away without me saying something. i'm sure you saw this "washington post" story about the commercial real estate situation and d.c., which is desperate. but which presents us with a great opportunity. i saw your number of dollars available allocated, obligated, expended, work with ms. norton, the chairman, to see that at this time when we have a fire sale and releasing, we have extensively says. when we have public agencies that can be housed at 50 cents, 25 cents on the dollar, that we act now instead of later and take advantage of this situation. i used to be in the development business and i always thought at

fire sale then i a lot of money. not that god for bid we should make any money in the federal government or have money to get the taxpayers back, but at least expend the money that is available in making wise investments at this time, which may not occur for some time. things will come back teared this is a great city, this is a great national capital. it will always have value. so if we take those funds sitting there, work together and take mr. oberstar on a ride around town to see what's available, ms. norton knows what i'm talking about. and we need to get some of that under contract asap. no see rap, just asap. >> thank you. i know you know, but just for the record, of course, we can't use recovery act funds for building purchases because they don't create jobs. however, which are referring to

is we do have some on obligated balances and we can use general tax funds to purchase buildings. and i will tell you that we do have one significant building purchase under negotiation in the district of columbia. i can't say what it is right now because we haven't closed the deal. but i hear you. you're absolutely right. i yield back. thank you. >> we hope will put emotion into it. ms. martin. >> thank you very much, madam chair. and i think the ranking member for raising the airport didn't issue a federal fund is going broke because we choose to much leasing. of course the ranking member on specific buildings would like us to buy. but i'm right with them when it comes to what gsa ought to be doing. this is their economy. they can buy and they can lease

at amounts they can never do again and that's why we have been having repeated hearings on gsa. we've had for tracking hearing, which may account for why gsa in fact, i'm pleased to say, hasn't speeded up and not least its obligations. mr. peck says he can't tell you a building that is that is under contract, but of course it's a matter of public record because the administration, for the first time, and almost 20 years i've been on the subcommittee, put money in its appropriation to purchase a building. that has never happened since i have been a member of the subcommittee. and he did so last year. i would like to see more about done, but of course we're going to have to come up with the hard cash if we want to put money. i think this is the time to do it. let us all get rich like the raging member did. >> would you yield for just a

moment? things can be misinterpreted by the press. first, i know no washington real estate developers. i have nothing for sale. i have no specific loathing. i do have one agency that i would like to see located in all things call located. i don't care where the hell they put them, just put them in some place cost effect is. >> the ranking member wants us to move people out of government owned building and put the people in a leased building in the district of columbia. rather he wants to buy another building for these people. i mean, all of this makes sense in its own way. he and i can get together and come up with some cash we had to do just that. i've got for some questions for the eda. now, i want everybody to note that the eda has allocated solid money and they have a whole lot less money than everybody else. but, and i think it's worth noting that the eda is at least

obligated. this, mr. fernandez, are all the funds the reason it is worth noting is like the gsa which has controlled that the funds can go into the ground at health. eda has to work through the states. you're really talking about the projects, argue? >> morsel local projects. >> in other words, it is the locality it has to obligate the funds. it has to go through all of the machinations that is necessary. it is not judy goes into the grand eda. now, let me ask you if there is -- and the people who teach for this little bit of money, relative to what some people like the gsa or for that matter the transit folks i'd. you had what was the 147 million? >> correct. we had 147 million. in terms of applications, the total amount of requests we had added up to about 241 million.

>> now, why don't the great issues, the congressional black caucus had an entire press conference on this was the notion of whether or not funds are being targeted to the hardest hit parts of our country. you have cities in the united states, my own city, for example, has 12% unemployment. that's typical of big cities in the united states. uni geared toward the big cities, but you're certainly geared towards the most depressed areas of the country. was there any -- is there any correlation between the unemployment rate and the localities that one these contracts and the contract with success in winning a contract? in other words, can you tell me that the hardest hit areas in

fact argue about this entire amount of obligated funds? >> i can't say that absolutely in terms of the projects that were funded were in the -- the >> no, you see that is really not my question. all of your projects come from hard-hit areas. >> correct. >> you can go to some states and find the price is. or example, pennsylvania has a loweemployment rate than i thought it would have heard i am asking whether there was a criteria among those used towards contracts that went to the unemployment rate like >> yes, in fact i appreciate you clarifying that for me. the eda's programs are specifically limited to eligible areas. and not eligibility is based on unemployment numbers as well as averaging incomes. we typically use at eda 824

month lag period. and that's by statute to determine eligibility. with the recovery act, we actually had an opportunity to find two are criteria and we used a shorter. to reflect the urgent nature of the recovery act. so in that case -- >> it would be helpful if you would submit to the committee and i would like to make sure i get a copy, the list of those who applied and they are unemployment rate versus those who succeeded and their unemployment rates that we can see that correlation. it's an important one. it would help to clarify this matter. i have a question for you and for mr. peck that is the same genre question. you of obligated all of your money, but then apparently

you've broken ground on 20 of the projects and that would mean 45 million of the 147 million that's 31% of the amount allocated. >> correct. >> now, one of the great issues that had arisen in the series, my own tracking hearings and the series is the jargon and the difference between obligation and outlays. now, the gsa has the same issue, 2.1 billion obligated, but only 184 million outlays. now, as far as the public is concerned, obligation may not mean very much. we know it is very pregnant with meaning. but one of the reasons that there may be dissatisfaction

with stimulus is we keep talking about large amounts of money, but people do not see that money on the ground, even in the case at eda, where all of your money has been allocated. i would like each of you to respond concerning outlays, which means that people on the ground, you're floating money out there to pay somebody is on the ground, whereas obligation, as far as we understand it, means that the money in the bank waiting to go on the ground. so, mr. peck or mr. fernandez, which if you would like to explain the discrepancy between obligation on outlays and your own figures today? >> you know, i think it's pretty -- i mean, it's a pretty relevant point. in our case 100% of our progress will actually be initiated by

july 1 of this year. >> say that again. >> you know, today, we reported a percentage of our projects of argument started in terms of breaking ground. as you noted earlier, in some cases, construction projects in all cases in fact for eda are run a reimbursable basis. so a project may actually start, but we won't disperse until the request for reimbursement. >> i will be pretty quickly. people haven't worked long without being paid. >> you'd be surprised in terms of how some of our local agencies are more urgent about reimbursement than others. >> you think the problem is that the local level. >> no, i think the issue is that with construction projects there's often complex work that has to be completed before you can break ground.

my point is that by july 1 of this year, 100% of our projects will be initiated in terms of the work, the designs will be completed, the ground will be broke. >> all 60 grants will have ground broken. >> yes. >> now, that's important. mr. peck, what's important is we begin. in february the bill passed. i party has some of this. has been the winter, but some of it does not in the winter. part of the spring of course was the tooling up after we passed the bill. but in your case as well, we have this huge amount -- you seem to be on track to in fact get it spent, excuse me, get it obligated. i'm very pleased with after a great deal of trouble, you have done very good work with the

apprenticeship so that we begin to see something really happened to that, congratulate you on not. but to a point, 2.1 are obligated to see only 184 million, which means somebody is being paid as a matter of some concern. >> let me take either a couple of different kinds of projects. but for some numbers. we have over 300 projects, we have 92 when the construction phase, which means money is going to start to flow. and as i said, by september -- by now were a 10% of the ratio of outlays to obligation of actual spending two obligations. by september will be up to about 25%, 26%. >> are you on track knowing that essentially the building. is coming up, that she know what disorders between late march -- what is it a six month period or

so. you tell me when, if you want jobs, those jobs essentially are going to be created in on the ground in the spring, summer, early fall months. >> depends on the area. we're building in the border station of calexico. but there's no snow for sure. but your rights in a lot of areas, it's seasonal. and a large product, here's what happened. take a large modernization, which we had to hire an architect or a large new building. we've had a lot of instances in which architect and engineers have worked around the clock to finish their designs. when they finished the design, their job stopped and then there is a little bit of a black because we produce construction documents. we go out to bid. takes a couple of minutes to get the bid on complex projects.

we've done everything we can to streamline, fast-track the contract and then it takes a while before the buildings go in the ground eared bats one issue. second however, is well worth doing matt and i think this is important to note. we don't track it. we have been very conservative about what we claim as job retention and job creation so that when we award a contract to a contract your and their people know they're going to have a job coming, that contractor can borrow and keep people on the payroll who otherwise might have been let go. >> do you know how many jobs you expect to be created by this -- your portion of the stimulus fund? >> we are -- by the end, it should be around 60,000 jobs. and we will have about 10,000 -- we've changed the way we measure. were doing a quarterly that and not cumulatively. but by the end of september, we will have 10,000 jobs created. >> thank you very much. >> time has expired here at

mr. brown. >> thank you, madam chair. ms. secretary, in south carolina it was one of those states that did get a 10 billion-dollar grant to continue the funding firm ice 73. and i noticed in part of the criteria, you could use it either as a grant or you could use it as a subsidy of ministry assistance. tell me how that works. and i guess the states would make the choice or as part of the funding mechanism -- >> is a very good question, sir. first, as you know, there were far more products than we had funding. i 73 is a good example of a barely badly needed but also very expensive highway project

that would be the direct connection to myrtle beach. what this does is gives the states the option of either using that, what we call a challenge grant, to either cover the tv a subsidy for it alone or to use it for an element of the project financing that they'd like to do. the idea would be -- it can be a catalyst to the financing package for a project of that scope and we will be flexible with the state and how they want to proceed. the indications we've gone from different states on this process is there going to probably approach it in different ways. one wanted to do is give you the maximum flexibility and use this as a catalyst to get the project going. >> do you think this is sort of, you know, forward a little bit to look at the job bill that's been created. i guess, did the senate passed yesterday, is that correct?

>> gas. >> and how many dollars worth of highway funding is going to be in that bill? >> 38 billion i believe. >> we would presume that it would operate to sensually the same way that the recovery act funding dead so the same types of projects would typically be eligible. the time frames would presumably be similar. we are geared up and ready to go for it. >> does that mean the money will be back to the states through some kind of formula, whether it be where it actually will be allocated by grant? >> like the recovery act, we would anticipate that it would work both boys. the majority of the will be formula the way the states are used with now, but there would also be an ability through t.i.g.e.r. grants to do the same thing that we did with these, which is fun projects that don't easily fit into any of these

other categories. i would point out also that in our fiscal geared 2010 funding, there will be another round of t.i.g.e.r. grants. we expect to award those by the end of this calendar year. so the types of projects and some of the specific projects that applied for but did not get funding and the sound could be eligible for the next round. and we have been encouraging applicants that were not successful in this round to come in for a debriefing that we can maximize their opportunities for this next $600 million. >> so you'll ask for additional grants and he'll be able to use the same grants and go back requalify. >> they will have to resubmit -- we are required to actually put out a separate notice of availability, which were doing. but essentially, you can take those same applications, strengthen them. and again, we encourage people to get a db from us.

>> that was about a $300 million request i guess for i-73 and we get 10 million, but in south carolina is one of those states that they mention the 12.6% unemployment. in this particular region and in the parts of south carolina, approaching 20%. so this would be a win-win for us as we could exceed that somehow. and whether thing, just a side note, madam chair, back in south carolina, we were able to create in this committee what you call an infrastructure bank. i know we've been talking about that as we go to the reacquisition bill for the next highway bill. but i don't know exactly how far you've actually taken a look at it. it seems like we need some way to leverage the funding we have two maximize the project so we can create more jobs. so i thought that maybe another

tool we can use. >> it certainly is another tool. and in the presidents budget, a proposed infrastructure fund as part of the proposal. an infrastructure bank like proposal, which would be another tool in the toolbox for these projects. and again, on i-73, we do recognize both the need and the economic distress of the area. that's a great illustration of a project that would be jobs in the short-term and long-term reinvestment, that from an economic development point of view is up year after year. >> i just think it's a window of opportunity that we find out today that if we spend the money for infrastructure improvements, we know the economy is going to come back and then we're going to have an infrastructure that is going to be able to move the commerce and create jobs in the future. anyways, thank you for your service. thank you, madam chair. >> thank you very much,

mr. brown. >> thank you premeds, noah to piggyback on what congressman brown just that. because one of the things about this committee and i want to use this disclaimer here that one of the things i have enjoyed about being on this committee is the nature of the bipartisanship of this committee and that we work together. and we worked together on all of the issues. and i want to be clear that this administration, the president, the vice president and secretary lahood has worked with this chairperson and with the ranking member as for high-speed rail is concerned. and i want everybody to be clear that they have worked with us do diligently. they have come to florida. they have talked to the florida officials. and i am very pleased that we've had transparency as far as the projects are concerned, as far as high-speed is concerned in this country. and i just want to get that on

the record before we get started. and also about the stimulus, let me tell you, because mr. oberstar and the hearings that we are having today and the hearings that we have had, we can truly say that we know how the dollars have been spent. we can piggyback on the states that have received the dollars and where those dollars are. and members of congress into the city council, to every single level we have been able to contact the officials and make them move those dollars go. and so i just want to put that on the record. this is bipartisanship. i don't understand how sometimes the rhetoric breaks down for whatever the moment of the time. but i want to be cleared that i am very pleased with this administration. and in fact i asked are going to have hearings in florida. were going to take it to florida and california, but i want to go to to were three cities in

florida because we have benefited from high-speed and it's an example of how this country can benefit with high-speed. and it can change the complex of this country. i mean, 50 years ago when eisenhower and the members of congress decided to do the highway system, that was great for the country. now we're at a new area. all of our competitors are moving forward. i just returned from germany where you can get on a train and you can go 200 miles in less than an hour. that's the future of this country and we need to work together in a bipartisan way and cut down on the rhetoric. now, let's go to mr. carpenter. would you please tell me -- and in my questions, i'm very happy with the project that you did in stamford, florida. but the president of the vice president was one of the first announcements that is both in my district.

can you tell is how many jobs that's going to generate? >> how many specific jobs? i can play that specifically today, congresswoman. but i would be happy to get that to you very quickly. >> while i can tell you we are very excited about the project. when we go back to mr. peck. one of the things that you talked about. and my question is, why is it that we don't do more design bills because basically it takes months to plan and then months to get it out. why can't we do -- have some were demonstrated projects that show the design build because that would actually really put people to work and cut down on the number -- the amount of time. we've done some of that and i'm very pleased with the project. i don't understand why it takes us, let's say, you know, five years to build a hospital, where the private sector right next-door can do it in 18

months. and this is a democrat talking here. >> eurotech intuit private sector real estate person, too. and in the recovery art projects, we are doing a plot of the design build because it does speed up the process. you know, the reason i think traditionally we haven't done them so much as some of our products and trends projects have had longer lead times and getting agreement from agencies and complex. not a good excuse. were doing a lot more design build. where else he is in another process called to construct your, the construction manager which allows us to fast-track the design and get a builder on board early guns of the architecture of builders are working together at an early stage in the process. >> so this will help expedite some of these projects? >> yes, ma'am. >> can you mr. porcari, tell us about the tyler grants on said to grants. we got a big initial round, but

there will be other rounds but this up to grants. tell us for everyone in the room who is interested in the set to grants. it was one of the hottest items all of the country. people have projects that didn't actually fit into certain categories. and so there is a great deal of pent-up desire. i think you have to see many applications for a limited amount of money i >> we received $60 billion with a request for $1.5 billion with the funding. and you're correct, ma'am, it is a great program and that projects at our regional or national significance that don't necessarily fit into one of her 108 stovepipes of programs, were eligible for this. and if you look at the reports around the country, these are projects that for the most part typically can't get funded any other way, but are critically important from an economic

development competitiveness and job's point of view. so we were evaluating things like the performance, the existing systems, whether it was highway, freight rail, ports or any others, livability, environmental sustainability. those are some of the explicit goals that we have in this program. and as you point out, there is another round. it was $1.5 billion nationwide. the next round will be $600 million. it will be awarded by the end of this calendar year. >> thank you and i want to thank you all for what you are doing. we receive less than 4% of the money but are generated about 50% of the jobs it to thank you again. >> thank you, madam chairwoman. kind of piggybacking on what congressman brown said. one of the pleasures of working on this is that it is not

bipartisan. and frankly, this chairman has been emphatic and make each of the money has been well spent. we have to be emphatic because the scene where some of the css can't elsewhere. funds go into congressional districts that don't exist. stimulus funds going to political campaign consultants. note that happens in another country, we don't call it waste. we call it corruption. but this committee and this chairman, chairman oberstar has been dead set against letting that happen at least in the area this committee has oversight and once again i need to commend this chairman and this committee for that. i do want to talk to you about those t.i.g.e.r. grants. so it's to stimulate job creation because the economy is hurting and because particularly some states are doing worse than others. the state of florida and i know you already heard it from mr. mica.

the state of florida if i'm not mistaken, made multiple requests, bhutto's 150 projects in florida. that included local government and ask d.o.t. the requested only for projects. in florida, which is in the top ten of unemployment numbers, received zero money from t.i.g.e.r. is that correct? >> that's correct. >> so you could not find one project in florida, someone not qualified for t.i.g.e.r. grants. >> no, sir. there were worthy project that did not get funded. and as i mentioned only about 3% of the projects were able to. i would point out that economically distressed areas is something we've paid close attention to. you previously thought if i'd are mr. mica about state unemployment answers. especially the large states, the unemployment varies in different parts of the state. we're tried to the event on the

particular pocket of higher distress through the economically distressed areas. as i previously testified, 60% of the projects went to economically distressed areas. >> i understand that. is there any debate that florida is in the top ten of unemployment? >> no, we're not debating that. it's a lack of enough t.i.g.e.r. funding to satisfy. >> it again, i understand that there's not -- you have a number of states and i'm sure they're worthwhile projects. i'm not saying they're not worthwhile projects. we have a number of states that have much lower unemployment, including lower than the national average which is obviously very high, that received millions of dollars. in florida, the top of the nation as far as unemployment received $0 eared anime, tell me how that's justified.

>> well, a couple of things. first, as you previously heard, florida received a very significant high-speed rail grant as part of it. so in addition to the rest of the recovery funding, florida received one of the single largest -- >> for me stop you there. the other states that received high-speed rail today also not get any money? >> the unemployment and economically distressed areas is one of the criteria, not the only one. it's a combination of a couple of things. >> i'm sorry, mr. secretary. i guess or try to justify florida getting zero because they received high-speed rail money. if that's the case, let's not lose that thought. our other states that received high-speed rail money, do they get zero t.i.g.e.r. grants money. >> i don't know off hand. >> mr. secretary, we're adults here. if you're going to use that as a

justification, then let's be consistent, please. all right, if you're telling me one of the reasons i'm florida -- and by the way, that may be the case. if you're saying one of the reasons they didn't get t.i.g.e.r. grants is because they got high-speed rail and that was the policy. >> no, sir, that was not the policy. >> so you're taken that back? >> know, if i could just clarify what i did not mean to imply that they got t.i.g.e.r. grants did not get high-speed rail grant. it did get a very significant high-speed rail grant that was awarded on the merits. with both a high-speed rail program and the t.i.g.e.r. program, we were in the unfortunate position of having far more meritorious projects and we could possibly award. economically distressed areas was one of the considerations and it's an important one because both recovery and reinvestment are the aims of the bill.

i would encourage, first of all, and i have had a discussion with your state eot secretary about this. i would encourage the state, the applicants for this specific t.i.g.e.r. projects to come in and let's go through debriefing on the strengths and weaknesses of those individual proposals so they can maximize their opportunity for the next round. >> i appreciate that, mr. secretary. i think that's a worthwhile exercise and hungry for that. i just want to make it very clear for the record that holds you cut it, however you look at it, whatever justification, whatever criteria, there is no explanation why florida was not able to qualified for one single dollar of t.i.g.e.r. grants. i'm sorry, sir. i appreciate you're willing to look at the proposals and whatever it may be, but there is no justification, absolutely zero justification for florida to not have gotten any from t.i.g.e.r. money. >> mr. chairman eared

>> ms. brown. >> i just want to say that i'm disappointed we did not get t.i.g.e.r. grants. but if you turn to florida and you look at every single category, florida has received significant amount of taxpayer dollars. part of the problem in florida initially received money, it was sitting in tallahassee. and we had to move it. i mean, we were fifth in one. if you have not prodded to are attention, and it's only 50 states and the state used in the transportation dollars. fifty-one out of 50 states. so if we didn't move it and once we got on top of it because of your leadership, florida became 36. so it's not like money is not sitting in tallahassee. they need to move it out into the communities. >> the state implementation program. who is next?

>> thank you very much, mr. chairman. mr. secretary, first of all, i want to thank the department of transportation for getting the money out quick. and as you've heard, the infrastructure funding, the stimulus is one of the ones that have been able to get the most out and have a big impact. in your testimony, he said as the president made clear in the state of the union address, his number one priority in 2010 is accelerating job creation and the pace of job creation. transportation is an important part of his plan to put americans back to work. and you urge congress to consider supporting a jobs bill. that's great. and as you heard the chairman and other members of this committee, we are very concerned of the fact that the same administration requested an 18 month delay in the transportation reauthorization. and when you look at the impact

that the stimulus money would have thought, would have been a greater impact. however, having talked to contractors, they actually put on hold purchasing equipment, decided to pay overtime versus hiring new people because they are concerned whether it's 18 months, maybe 24, might be 36 months. i'm concerned that some of the individuals throughout the administration. i know chairman oberstar mentioned larry summers, which is not the been for a supportive funding. how committed is the industry chin in creating jobs, although it's a year late, how committed are they in creating jobs? and if they are so committed, wife are they really aggressively moving to get congress, which we are prepared in the house to pass the transportation reauthorization bill? at the job creation bill. >> sir, one very important part from the transportation project, probably the most important part of the senate jobs bill is the

service transportation authorization until the end of this calendar year. that starts to provide the kind of certainty and predictability that you illustrate. i'd also mention because it needs clarification, i believe, this difference in the recovery act funding between outlays and obligation. and the important part on obligation, because we work on a reimbursable basis. the obligation is when the jobs tarts. it's when the work starts. we are reimbursing when the work is done. this is like writing a new automobile. you don't pay the manufacturer to build it. they build it, they deliver, you test drive it, then you pay for it. so the jobs, the investment are up front. the federal reimbursements at the back of the progress. >> next, we talk about predictability. and i understand what the senate

did on their bill and they're going to have part of the funding forward to part of the t.i.g.e.r. we heard some concern come up with the administration out t.i.g.e.r. grants and some other accusation as it relates to that. do you think it for predict ability is better to run to the spending formula for predictability? >> i think the t.i.g.e.r. grant process has in particular, has shown that there's a value for both, where merit-based projects, that don't fit within one of our existing formulas and typically can be funded any other way. and one illustration in the t.i.g.e.r. award that you saw last week would be our freight rail capacity projects thomas or it's incredibly important an economic development standpoint, but it can't get funded any other way. it's a program like t.i.g.e.r. is the only way they were going to be able to make those investments. so the combination of formula funds, which the state and our other recipients now and are

good at getting projects out the door in the merit-based projects like t.i.g.e.r. for one of the ones that don't but in that category is actually good combination. >> thank you. mr. porcari, you mentioned sound that are in locomotive somewhat heavy. one is in a newspaper article were 80% of money has gone to foreign manufacturing for the wind turbines is all you're funding here locally, that's my first question. and for those who are part of the administration, also reading an article just last week with u.s. trade representative, ron kirk, is encouraging mexico to sign into the government procurement agreement so that mexico can actually have access to some of the stimulus funding, which was to create jobs here in the u.s. the one question to mr. carpenter and those involved in the administration.

the administration coordinating what's happening or you going to encourage other countries to access the stimulus money? >> thank you, congressman. first of all, the 80 vehicles that i mentioned in the locomotive are all of the rebuild mode. so we are reconstructing those. but certainly amtrak is certainly going to comply with a buy american component and it's been a great deal of conversation were committed to doing. we're hopeful to be the genesis for starting a domestic manufacturing base. we restart that for a rail. if i might, i want to make sure that one thing is clear and i really has to do with the transparency and congress that if you can bear with me, it would probably speak to the question that you have. i want to make sure that they make it very clear that the

$1.3 billion in their people on our website you'll be able to see where we're spending every one of those dollars. there was a reference earlier about some other projects that while amtrak will be on our service and in our vines, the money is not coming to amtrak and certainly -- it's not reflective on our website. but the money that comes directly to amtrak, we're very proud of our transparency and i want to make sure that we made that point that our transparency on her website we think his first rates. i hope that answered your question, mr. congressman. >> mr. chairman, i noticed the administration were solid on that issue of job creation. if they want to submit it to the record, mr. chairman the president has an talking about the job creation here at home. we further panel hears talk about work of the stimulus package has done but i'm the

same token you have part of the administration encouraging mexico to sign on to the government agreement under the wto so they can get around the buy american provision. see god one him saying one thing and another hand is encouraging countries to access the remaining of the stimulus package. and that's a bit concerned if they can't answer today, if they could provide the committee with their answer why they're encouraging other countries to access the stimulus funding. >> we certainly expect answers to those questions. the fundamental question of the buy american act goes back to the 1930's. in fact, it was enacted in 1930. and he was ready loosely by roosevelt in the wpa. and we simply reverted to this in the stimulus. is there u.s. tax dollars, the purpose of the program for stupid americans to work and use

american materials in this product. the chinese are not hiring americans. they're not buying materials and their $585 billion stimulus plan. nor have the japanese, nor have the france has a 47 billion-dollar seamless program for the not looking to buy american equipment or materials to put into their stimulus programs. and in other areas, other arena, fine. that's a different matter. they use american tax dollars to put americans to. >> is to chairman, my answer to by saying that in some cases by american under the recovery act we can buy foreign goods if we don't have american good. >> and mob that are specified in a particularly and there is a process by which you have to perceive to resolve those matters. >> correct. and i think rsa gsa, one of the

things we think it's an opportunity to give him in the recovery act is to buy some green building products in the kind of bulk in which we can help make the market for american manufacturers to start making them. there have been cases where we haven't found an american manufacturer. we have been approached by some who said if we buy enough of their products they will set up a plan and were hoping to have a couple of the successes to report to you. >> i agree with the whole idea and i understand the chairman said there are provisions if we can't buy it here. but for the administration to be finding countries that do not qualify under gpa to become qualified so they can go after the stimulus money is wrong. no two ways about it. it's wrong, dead wrong. >> mr. chairman, if i may, i just want to make clear for the transportation part of the stimulus program, by america has applied for the beginning, we've granted no waivers.

we have one transit project that is actually started discussing that. we made it clear the project would not go forward if that was the case. >> you're hearing it straight from the members of the committee. gentleman, time has expired. mr. cohen. >> thank you, mr. chairman. and more particularly to the state of new orleans and its recovery process. i made a strong advocate of high-speed rail and that would be the first question that i would ask secretary porcari, will there be a second round application for high-speed rail. an first of all, before you answer that, i'd like to thank the secretary for at least the decision to provide new orleans with $45 million in t.i.g.e.r. funding. i like to thank him for coming down to the whirling stew take a look at the city's streetcar system and recognizing that it is a vital part of the city into

the economic recovery of the city. so if you can answer my question about the second round application for high-speed rail. >> yes, sir. and first, i'm the t.i.g.e.r.'s streetcar grant for new orleans. that's a great example of a economic stimulus and livability and how those fit together as long-term investment that will help the country. yes, there will be a second round of high-speed rail grants. we will be working directly with the applicants on that. we look forward to that, knowing that the high-speed drill program in the recovery act was the first step, an important first step for what will be a nationwide comprehensive high-speed rail network. >> can you provide me with the time when the second round application will be requested?

>> yes, in rough terms, we anticipate making the awards prior to the end of this calendar year for those. the criteria and some of the specifics on that will be happy to get to you. they are being developed right now. >> and it will be from the stimulus money so they won't be any matching requirements from the states. >> the selection of the 8020. they will require a 20% match. >> these are post-stimulus dollars. >> thank you. mr. hooks, i notice you've been very quiet and i do want to leave you out of the conversation. and my question to you is, how many jobs have been created through the epa stimulus funding and how many of those jobs go to, for example, the inspectors to go out to site and to inspect sites? >> i can't necessarily break down the precise nature of what those jobs are.

right now we estimate about 6800 jobs that have been produced were created or retained at this point in time based on what they are supporting. >> mr. hooks, i would like to put some of those people to work. there is a church in norcross georgia, it serves about 1100 families. there is a waste transfer plan that ought to be built right next to the church. if i were a student looking out the window, i would be looking straight at the waste transfer station. so i have no idea where the federal station is, but it seems to me that there isn't an environmental issue if there is a waste transfer station right next to a fully functional operating church. so if you can have your people look into that for me i would really appreciate it. >> would be happy to let you do

that. >> if you can have your staff contact my stuff. >> i appreciate it, we will. >> and ms. darcy, this question has nothing to do with the stimulus jobs, but there is an issue that has been raised in the second district. and also, in the adjacent congressional district. recently, a federal judge issued a judgment after trial, holding the engineers responsible for the flooding in st. bernard parish as well as in the lower ninth ward. and the question that many of my constituents have been asked of me to ask you is whether or not the army corps of engineers plan to ban the judgment? >> because of the nature of this ongoing litigation, it's not something i can address at this time. the department of justice is still looking at that decision.

>> okay. that's all the questions i have, mr. chairman. >> thank you, mr. cao. ms. richardson. >> thank you heard that was very kind of you, ms. napolitano. mr. porcari, thanks for being here today. i had an opportunity for you to come to my district which i greatly appreciate. i like to build on ms. jordan's request that this committee would receive a report or a map or something that gives us an overlay based upon what projects have actually been funded and how that relief to the unemployment in the economic under stress areas. i remember ms. edwards and i., when we first talked about supporting the stimulus package, many of us talked about having the commitment that the dollars are going to go into the unemployment area about also the

second question that i wanted to ask, that wasn't in your testimony. and we talked about last time that we would this time and i don't see it. and that is, what do contractors have been able to now play in this arena, that we're not currently working at the time when this all started. and i know there's been a big play on words or whether his job sustained versus jobs created. but if all we did out of this whole process of over $800 billion is only to ensure that the people who are already working got to work a few more hours, that certainly was not my objective. so if you could, and this is my second time requesting this, that the report that would come to this committee at the next meeting would include the information of what do contractors, minority contractors in particular, have been able to gain employment, game contracts in light of all this money that came out. and also a record of how this overlay economically with the

economically distressed areas. >> we will do that. we will need to get the contractor information from the recipients. but we will work with them to do that. >> okay. i next point is i was a little surprise in your testimony gave a recap of what has happened with the money, but it should really talk about lessons learned. and because i unfortunately have only three minutes i need to talk about is really important. i would ask you afford to the committee in light of what we did with the stimulus, if we were to do something again, what would be some of the key things that you have now cured out across the country that would enable us to spend the money in the best way. and let me give you a couple examples. i averted my community that because of the way the language was written, there's been a greater focus on short-term projects versus long-term projects. because i had to be shovel ready, we've done a lot of tv, but there were some other key

projects that have to be done but couldn't get done because it was going to take longer. also, there was an issue about funding being allowed or designed and some of these other things. so i would just be very curious to hear what you have learned a deep going out and about and if you could supply to this committee. i really, i like to actually chime in for my colleague from florida. i was a little disappointed with the t.i.g.e.r. allocations and not only am i going to request a particular area to get a debriefing, i'd like to get a debriefing. because to be very frank with you, sir, i find it hard to understand how you can find poor communities, fund this movement throughout united states and yet fail to fund the largest one in the united states. it doesn't make sense. and so, i'd like to have a real serious conversation to understand what was the criteria, how things were determined to be selected and what we need to do moving

forward. i believe is a member of congress, where part of the u.s. house of representatives. so when you came and you do the tour, i made sure that you went because i believe you have a number of this committee, just as much obligation to support ms. napolitano as i do mr. baucus and so on and i applied what it's been done. i have no problems with the ones that were picked, particularly in california. i think they're right on. but i think there were some others that should have been done in addition to that. and i think it's glaringly a problem. if further alarms me when i hear your comments about high-speed rail because when you come from a state like california, ok, california cat, we got 2.3 billion, but the route from anaheim to los angeles. so even though that's right next-door to me, that is still not -- if you're looking out well okay, l.a. got x amount and

so we now need to do some over here. it's not necessarily reflective. and we need to make sure whoever is making these decisions understands the mass. because it doesn't make sense. and without i've got to second. so i look forward to speaking to you. >> thank you. we'll be happy to do the deeper you can talk about the project criteria. i will say again both high-speed rail in the t.i.g.e.r. grant progress, merit-based progress, overwhelming demand and we look for to the next round for them. if i could just spend one moment if i may, ma'am, on the lessons learned. one clearly is reporting requirements, streamlining, making it because the states in particular have multiple reports. they had to put together. it turned into a bit of an administrative burden. the other comment that you make, which i think is a very important one, about the short-term we service anti-projects versus longer-term. i think if the recovery act as a three