REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR INFORM THE LEGISLATURE OF APPLICATIONS FOR FEDERAL FUNDS UNDER THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009.
WHEREAS, under the provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) the Governor is required to certify to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget within 45 days that he will request and use funds provided for in the Act; and that the funds will be used to create jobs and promote economic growth; and
WHEREAS, the Governor on March 10, 2009 certified to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget his intent to use the funds provided, and in the manner required under the Act; and
WHEREAS, the Governor has stated publicly that his intention was not to make application for and use funds available to the State under Section 2003 of the Act (Special Transfers for Unemployment Compensation Modernization); and
WHEREAS, the Act states that if funds provided to any State in any division of the Act are not accepted for use by the Governor, then acceptance by the State legislature by means of the adoption of a concurrent resolution shall be sufficient to provide funding to the State; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature of Alabama wishes to maximize all federal funds available to the State and to inform the various federal agencies, and those others required to be notified, of its intent to use, to the fullest, funds available under the Act for all Alabama citizens; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That the Governor report to the Legislature by the 23rd legislative day of the 2009 Regular Session whether or not his intent is to request all funds available to the State under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; and further that the Governor provide to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to the Senate Pro Tempore a list of those programs and associated funds that he will not make application for on behalf of the State.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Governor provide to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to the Senate Pro Tempore a copy of the applications made to the various federal departments and agencies for all programs for which he requests federal funds under the Act; further that if the application does not so state that the Governor provide to the Legislature information with each application that details the expected number of jobs to be created or saved, the specific projects funded in the application, the criteria used (either discretionary or by formula) to determine the recipients and the amounts each received, and the Governor’s rationale that the funds being used promote economic growth in the State.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That upon request, a copy of this information from the Governor and any quarterly reports required under Section 1512(c) of the Act be made available to any member of the Legislature.