District of Columbia: District residents, commerce to feel benefits of Stimulus Bill

The Stimulus Bill passed by the House will provide more than $.75 billion, but it is already clear that D.C. will get a large additional benefit in jobs from Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton's Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management. The General Services Administration, which reports to Norton's subcommittee, received $5.55 billion for the construction and repair of federal buildings, specifically important to D.C. because more federal real estate is located here than in any other jurisdiction. Norton insisted on an amendment for $3 million for pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship training programs to help women and minorities get a foothold in high-paying construction jobs, and she worked with the Highway and Transit transportation subcommittee because its share of stimulus funds nationwide was larger for a similar program, totaling $20 million for training in the construction needs.

Norton pressed successfully for funding for her major project, the Department of Homeland Security headquarters, and got the full $650 million released to build the first in a complex of buildings for five agencies on the campus of Saint Elizabeth's in Ward 8. This project alone is expected to create 32,800 jobs, and to stimulate retail and commercial development in the ward.

Also, a unique set of additional jobs will be available from the $8 billion for a high-speed railway, $1.3 billion for Amtrak, and $25 million for the Smithsonian Institution's repairs; and the Congresswoman has been assured funding for the National Mall and parks in D.C. neighborhoods. Also, $146 million will be set aside for repairs in the National Park system to go to the National Mall, as well as for the neighborhood parks in the District.

Benefits to the District include a new $8,000 home buyer tax credit that do not have to be paid back and that will apply in the District, trumping Norton's $5,000 home buyer tax credit in some, but not all cases.