Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) today announced that one year after being signed into law, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has delivered over $19 billion in committed federal funding to Texas and provided over $4.2 billion in tax cuts to hard-working Texans, delivering a stabilizing boost to communities throughout the state during the economic recovery of the past 12 months. 

In the 28th Congressional District, over $634 million in federal funding has made significant investments in local infrastructure, transportation, education, health care, agriculture, energy and other community priorities.

“In one year alone, the Recovery Act has brought billions in federal funding to Texas making community priorities possible in these hard economic times and it has helped provide billions in tax cuts to hard-working families,” said Congressman Cuellar.  “The Recovery Act has helped our communities recover during this economic recession. Without a doubt, it’s been a boost to Texas.”

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was passed by Congress last year and was signed into law by the President on February 17, 2009. Since then, it’s provided over $99 billion in tax cuts and first-time homebuyer tax credits to 95% of all hard-working families nationwide, including $4.2 billion to working Texans through the Making Work Pay Tax Credit Program.

Since the rollout of the Recovery Act, Texas has received over $3.3 billion for state transportation, energy and other shovel-ready infrastructure projects.

“With this Recovery Act funding, we’ve been able to help our local schools, invest in local transit, law enforcement and infrastructure,” said Congressman Cuellar. “This national package will have a positive local impact for decades to come.”

In Congressman Cuellar’s district, over 274,000 families benefited from tax cuts provided by the Recovery Act, individuals who made less than $75,000 and married couples earning less than $150,000 qualified for tax credits up to $400 and $800 respectively.

Also in Texas, over 3.5 million seniors and veterans received a one-time stimulus payment worth $250 totaling $894,247,670 in combined stimulus payments throughout the state, according to reports provided by ARRA.

“When you add everything up, the Recovery Act has made critical investments in our communities,” said Congressman Cuellar. “The tally shows it’s been a success.”

The Recovery Act also provided funding for the widely popular Cash for Clunkers program, small business tax credits and mortgage refinancing programs.
 
For more information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, please visit www.recovery.gov.
 
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Congressman Henry Cuellar is a member of the U.S. House Homeland Security, Agriculture, and Government Oversight & Reform Committees in the 111th Congress. Accessibility to constituents, education, health care, economic development, and national security are his priorities. Congressman Cuellar is also a Senior Whip and member of the Blue Dog Coalition.