Economic Recovery Act Boosts Georgia's Economy With $2.5 Billion in Direct Aid, More to Come

Seven provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provide billions in direct aid that go right into the hands of Georgians hit hardest by the recession, benefiting local communities as well as protecting families.

These provisions account for only about one-fourth of the Act's total funding, yet they are some of the most effective means for generating economic activity, according to Moody's economist Mark Zandi.

In the first nine months of the Recovery Act, which passed in February, five of the seven direct aid provisions sent almost $2.5 billion to Georgia families, the latest report by the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute shows.

"These are difficult times, but the Recovery Act has kept things from being much worse, as our study shows," said Clare S. Richie, a senior policy analyst for the nonpartisan think tank and one of the report's authors. "Thousands of Georgians are getting help making ends meet despite the worst recession in decades."

The study looked at the Recovery Act's increase in food stamp benefits; expansions of the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit; its new Making Work Pay tax credit for workers; three forms of help for unemployed workers; and its one-time payment to retirees, veterans, and people with disabilities. The report details each aid provision and provides county-by-county data for three of the provisions.

"These Recovery Act dollars are doing double duty," said Richie. "Not only are they keeping an estimated 250,000 Georgians out of poverty, but they are also spent quickly and close to home, boosting local businesses and helping them avoid laying off workers."

The Act's provisions are still in effect and more than $1 billion more in direct aid will reach Georgians in 2010. Policymakers designed these provisions to reach a wide range of low- to middle-income Americans not only because they stand the greatest risk of hardship during recessions, but also because they are the most likely to spend quickly whatever money they receive, thereby pumping it into the economy.

"Congress extended the additional unemployment benefits through mid-February," said the co-author and the Institutes' deputy director, Sarah Beth Gehl. "But with unemployment likely to remain high for some time, it will need to extend them further.

"Congress should also consider extending the Act's refundable tax credits for one additional year so they continue to boost the economy and help families as the recovery gets under way."

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Attorney General Holder Announces Recovery Act Grant to Save or Create Justice Related Georgia Jobs

/PRNewswire / -- U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder today announced that more than $36 million in Recovery Act funds will go to the State of Georgia to maintain or increase public safety in the state, while creating or retaining jobs within the law enforcement community. These Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program funds are part of more than $4 billion in Justice Department Recovery Act funds available to assist state, local and tribal law enforcement and for other criminal justice activities that help to prevent crime and improve the criminal justice system in the United States while supporting the creation of jobs and much needed resources for states and local communities.

As submitted in their application, the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council plans to promote safe communities and stable families where children can thrive; provide a safe environment where Georgians live, work, and play; provide a safe, secure state by effectively managing and rehabilitating offenders; promote homeland security and emergency preparedness for natural and man-made disasters or acts of terrorism; and reduce loss of life and injury on Georgia's roads. Georgia is required to provide a portion of the $36.2 million to the local jurisdictions.

"By addressing Georgia's economic challenges while simultaneously meeting the state's public safety priorities, these funds represent the best of what the Recovery Act can do for our communities," Attorney General Eric Holder said. "This vital funding will help fight crime and build safer communities, and we look forward to continued work with Georgia to address these criminal justice goals."

The procedure for allocating JAG grants is based on a formula of population and violent crime statistics, in combination with a minimum allocation to ensure that each state and territory receives an appropriate share of funding. Sixty percent of the allocation is awarded directly to a state and 40 percent is set aside for units of local government. States are required to sub-grant a portion of the funds to local units of government, such as a city, county, township or town. Faith-based and other community organizations are also eligible to receive pass-through funding from the state, as are Tribal governments.

In addition to the $36.2 million to the state, seven local units of government will receive Recovery Act JAG awards: $222,330 to Athens Clarke County Unified Government, $48,474 to Cherokee County, $670,806 to Clayton County, $128,245 to Hall County, $155,917 to Newton County, $28,626 to Thomas County, and $131,871 to the City of Smyrna. All other local Recovery Act JAG awards will be announced at a later date. The deadline for local units of government to submit their Recovery Act applications to the Department of Justice has been extended to June 17, 2009. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), a component of the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, established the previous deadline of May 18 to encourage early submission of applications in an effort to provide economic stimulus as soon as possible. Because this is a non-competitive formula grant program, the extension of this deadline does not impact either eligibility or funding determinations. For more local solicitation information, visit http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/recoveryJAG/JAGrecoveryLocal.pdf.

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Secretary Sebelius Highlights Two New Reports on Health Care Quality, Says Improving Quality is Key Component of Health Reform

At a speech before the United Nurses of America's 12th National Nurses Congress, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today discussed two new HHS reports on the quality of health care in America and challenged hospitals to work to reduce health care associated infections. Published by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the annual 2008 National Healthcare Quality Report and 2008 National Healthcare Disparities Report indicate that patient safety measures have worsened and that a substantial number of Americans do not receive recommended care. Upon issuing the reports, Sebelius also announced the availability of $50 million in Recovery Act resources to fight health care associated infections and improve patient safety.

"Today's reports show why we can't wait to enact comprehensive health reform," said Sebelius. "The status quo is unsustainable and we cannot allow millions of Americans to continue to go without the care they need and deserve."

The reports found:
* 40 % of recommended care is not received by patients.
* Only 40% of diabetic patients received three recommended diabetic preventive exams in the past year, and this rate has not improved over time.
* Only half of obese adults and children are given advice to exercise more and eat a healthy diet.
* Seven out of ten adults with mood, anxiety, or impulse disorders received inadequate treatment or no treatment at all.
* Disparities in health care persist. Minority patients receive disproportionately poor care compared to Caucasian patients. At least 60 percent of quality measures have not improved for minorities compared to Caucasians in the past six years.
* One in seven hospitalized Medicare patients experience one or more adverse event.
* Patient safety measures have worsened by nearly 1% each year for the past 6 years.
* Central line associated blood stream infections (CLABSIs) strike hundreds of thousands of patients each year.

Patient safety has declined in part because of this rise in health care associated infections (HAI), infections that patients acquire during the course of their stay in a healthcare setting, such as a nursing home or a hospital. HAIs are among the top ten leading causes death in the United States, and drive up the cost of health care by up to $20 billion per year.

Sebelius today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services plans to make $50 million in grants funded by the American Recovery Act available for states to help fight healthcare-associated infections (HAI). HHS plans to make $40 million available through competitive grants to eligible states to create or expand state-based HAI prevention and surveillance efforts, and strengthen the public health workforce trained to prevent HAIs. HHS is also allocating $10 million in grants to states to improve the process and increase the frequency of inspections for ambulatory surgical centers.

"Healthcare-associated infections can make illnesses worse, further debilitate patients who are already struggling and sometimes lead to death," said Sebelius. "Through the funding provided by the Recovery Act, we can help prevent these infections and improve the quality of care for all patients."

Sebelius also called on hospitals across America to commit to reduce Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infections in Intensive Care Units by 75 percent over the next three years. Research indicates that these infections strike hundreds of thousands of surgical patients and the percentage of patients acquiring these infections has steadily increased over the past six years.

Sebelius challenged hospitals to make use of a proven patient-safety checklist that can significantly and dramatically reduce the rate of these life-threatening infections.

"Patients expect to get better in a healthcare facility, not worse" added Sebelius. "The Recovery Act money will help protect patient safety, but we need hospitals to do more. Today, I'm challenging hospitals to take basic steps to fight infections that are weakening our health care system and threatening patient safety."

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HHS Makes Estimated $1 Billion in Recovery Act Funds Available to Improve Child Support Enforcement

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced
the availability of Recovery Act funds for state programs that
establish, enforce, collect and distribute child support.

Currently, the federal government provides incentive payments to states
based on the strength of their child support enforcement programs.
States are required to use these incentive payments to strengthen their
child support enforcement programs. Under a new provision in the
Recovery Act, these incentive payments will be matched by the federal
government. The change will make approximately $1 billion in new
resources available to states across the country.

"Every child deserves the support of both parents," said HHS Spokeswoman
Jenny Backus. "The Recovery Act will increase resources for child
support enforcement and will help parents make ends meet and children
receive the money they are due."

The Recovery Act temporarily reverses a provision in the Deficit
Reduction Act of 2005 that ended the practice of providing federal
matching funds for the state expenditure of incentive payments.

The new Recovery Act provision is effective Oct. 1, 2008 through Sept.
30, 2010. States will receive the additional match funding based on any
incentive funds used during FY 2009 and FY 2010, including incentives
earned and not spent in prior years. States will access the additional
funds as they currently do, through grant awards based on quarterly
expenditures.

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