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The newly passed Stimulus bill includes a $5 billion fund to be distributed by the United States Department of Education, led by Secretary Arne Duncan. This fund is yet another step in the direction of making sure that money is distributed to entities that spend efficiently and pursue all viable tools that allow them to do so:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Education Secretary Arne Duncan says schools must make drastic changes to get money from a special $5 billion fund in the economic stimulus bill.
“We’re going to reward those states and those districts that are willing to challenge the status quo and get dramatically better,” Duncan said Monday at the White House.
Those who keep doing the same old thing, however, won’t be eligible for the money, he said.
Schools will be getting tens of billions more dollars through regular channels. On top of that, Duncan will have an unprecedented $5 billion to award for lasting reforms.
To get an award, schools and states must show they have been spending their money wisely.
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Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board: The Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board was created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to coordinate and conduct oversight of funds distributed under this law in order to prevent fraud, waste and abuse. The Board includes a Chairman, Earl E. Devaney, appointed by the President, and ten Inspectors General specified by the Act. The Board has a series of functions and powers to assist it in the mission of providing oversight and promoting transparency regarding expenditure of funds at all levels of government. Quarterly and annual reports on the use of Recovery Act funds and any oversight matters will be issued as part of the Board’s work. The Board may also make recommendations to agencies on measures to avoid problems and prevent fraud, waste and abuse. To address issues quickly, the Board may send Flash reports to the President and Congress on potential management and funding problems that require immediate attention. The Board is also charged under the Act with establishing and maintaining a user friendly website, Recovery.gov, to foster greater accountability and transparency in the use of covered funds.
| Recovery Accountability and Transparency Act Board |
| The Honorable Earl E. Devaney |
Chairman |
| The Honorable Phyllis K. Fong |
Inspector General Department of Agriculture |
| The Honorable Todd J. Zinser |
Inspector General Department of Commerce |
| The Honorable Gregory H. Friedman |
Inspector General Department of Energy |
| The Honorable Daniel Levinson |
Inspector General Department of Health and Human Services |
| The Honorable Richard L. Skinner |
Inspector General Department of Homeland Security |
| The Honorable Glenn A. Fine |
Inspector General Department of Justice |
| The Honorable Calvin L. Scovel, II |
Inspector General Department of Transportation |
| The Honorable Eric M. Thorson |
Inspector General Department of Treasury |
| The Honorable J. Russel George |
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration |
| Mary Mitchelson |
Acting Inspector General Department of Education |
RECOVERY.GOV’S INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
The passage of the ARRA has created a call for a level of transparency and reporting in public spending that is unprecedented. All agencies received Stimulus dollars will be required to closely track spending and report spending to not only the federal government, but also to the general public.
One key aspect of this communication with the public is the establishment of a web page on each agency’s website specifically devoted to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. In a memorandum sent out by the Office of Management and Budget, this requirement is detailed:
“To facilitate transparency and reporting, agencies should establish a page on their existing website dedicated to the Recovery Act (i.e., www.agency.gov/recovery), which will link to Recovery.gov and will provide a single portal for all agency-specific information related to the Act.”
HERE IS A LINK TO THE FULL MEMORANDUM
The following states and territories have already established Recovery sites (click the “View Site” link to go to each state or territory’s individual site):
CLICK FOR AN UPDATED LIST
If a state or territory does not appear on this list, they have not yet set up their Recovery site as of March 18, 2009.