About The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

In the face of an economic crisis unprecedented since the Great Depression, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) represents a critical investment in our country’s future.

ARRA was intended to save or create three to four million jobs, with 90 percent of them in the private sector. The act will provide more than $150 billion to low-income and vulnerable households, spurring increased economic activity resulting in more than one million jobs.

In March, the California Legislature passed several bipartisan bills enabling California to receive ARRA dollars. These bills included AB X3 20 (Bass), SB X3 24 (Alquist), and SB X3 27 (Negrete McLeod.). That legislative package is helping distribute stimulus money for transportation projects, to expand eligibility for children’s healthcare, and to fund drinking water and waste treatment projects.

At the same time, most of ARRA’s funding doesn’t require specific California Legislation. ARRA allocations are largely being distributed through existing departments and programs. For example, the California Department of Education has already distributed billions of ARRA dollars to local schools. On this website, you can find many of the funding reports made by government departments.

ARRA’s measures bring significant help to millions of families whose lives have been upended by the economic crisis, but also go well beyond short-term stimulus. By expanding health care, improving schools, modernizing infrastructure, and investing in the clean energy technologies of the future, ARRA lays the foundation for a robust and sustainable 21st century economy. To view the full bill, click here.