President Obama signed into law a nearly $800 billion package aimed at stimulating the U.S. economy that includes almost $30 billion for highway construction funding, the Associated Press reported.
Obama signed the $787 billion stimulus package into law at Denver’s Museum of Nature & Science, doing so there to underscore investments that will yield new “green” energy-related jobs, AP said.
Both the House and Senate approved the final version of the stimulus package late Friday, news services reported.
The measure includes about $50 billion over two years to the Department of Transportation for highways, bridges and rail infrastructure projects, the Washington Post reported.
Highway funding garnered about $27.5 billion, while other transportation projects will get $20.6 billion, the Post said.
Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood said DOT “will would make sure the transportation money in this law gets Americans to work quickly.
“Transportation is a great enabler of economic growth, the lifeblood of commerce. It moves people to jobs and goods to the marketplace. Without strong transportation arteries, economies stagnate,” he said in a statement.
