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Michael L. Connor, a top Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee staffer, is President Obama's choice to lead the Interior Dept.'s Bureau of Reclamation, the White House announced on March 18. Connor has been counsel to the energy committee since May 2001 and worked on water, Indian lands and energy issues. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar served on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee during his term in the Senate. Connor worked at Interior from 1993 to 2001 as deputy director and director of the secretary's Indian water rights office. Connor's nomination as Commissioner of Reclamation is subject to Senate confirmation.
With no prospect of quick action on a multi-year Federal Aviation Administration bill, the House has approved another in a series of extensions for FAA programs, including the agency's Airport Improvement Program construction grants. The measure, which extends funding authority and aviation user fees through Sept. 30, was approved on March 18 by voice vote. The next step is action by the Senate. Enactment of the extension is needed by March 31, when the current FAA extension lapses.
At about the 30-day mark since President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, federal agencies are releasing more of the $787-billion stimulus measure’s construction funding. The Dept. of Energy, Dept. of Transportation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on March 12 and 13 detailed plans to distribute more than $1 billion in stimulus aid. Photo: Amtrak Amtrak plans to replace Connecticut bridge (top). The Dept. of Energy said on March 12 that it plans to release to state and local agencies an initial installment of $777.8 million of its $7.8 billion in stimulus funds for home weatherization and aid
Amtrak soon will be receiving the first portion of $1.3 billion for capital improvements from the economic-stimulus package. Vice-President Joe Biden, a long-time Amtrak rider and supporter, told a March 13 press conference at Washington, D.C.'s Union Station, that the $1.3 billion "will nearly double Amtrak's investment program over the next two years." Photo: NCI, Leo King Drawbridge in Connecticut would be replaced. Amtrak President Joseph Boardman says the railroad expects to reach a final grant agreement with the Federal Railroad Administration on the stimulus funds with during the week of March 16. "Once we've got that, we're ready to
Federal agencies are moving out more federal stimulus aid. The Federal Aviation Administration said March 12 that it had released the first two allocations of its $1.1 billion in airport aid under the stimulus. Those allotments, totaling $12 million, will go to two Pittsburgh-area airports. In addition, the Dept. of Energy said it plans to release to state and local agencies an initial installment of about $780 million of the $8 billion the stimulus provided to DOE for home weatherization assistance and aid to states' energy offices. DOE says that the initial allocations include $471.8 million for the weatherization program
Although there has been action in the House on a four-year Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill, it is likely that Congress instead will approve another in a series of extensions when the current stopgap FAA measure lapses on March 31. Source: Airports Council International-North America House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) says it appears a six-month extension is needed to give the Senate time to work on the bill, says transportation panel spokesman Jim Berard. Such a bill would keep FAA running and its Airport Improvement Program construction grants flowing through Sept. 30, when fiscal 2009 ends.
The White House will have to keep searching for a deputy secretary for the Dept. of Transportation. Jane Garvey, the Federal Aviation Administration chief and acting head of the Federal Highway Administration during the Clinton presidency, was seen as the top choice for the No. 2 DOT post. But Garvey has declined the appointment, says a spokesperson at JPMorgan, which Garvey joined last year.
President Obama has asked the Office of Management and Budget to develop by Sept. 30 more stringent procurement guidelines to limit the use of sole-source and cost-plus contracts on federal projects. In a March 4 memo, Obama said use of sole-source and cost-plus contracts increased dramatically between 2001 and 2008. He contended that reliance on those contracts led to cost overruns and wasteful spending on federal projects during the Bush presidency, particularly in Iraq. The memo also says federal agencies should use sole-source contracts only in limited circumstances and rely more on fixed-price contracts. The White House estimates the changes