OEO Director and Senior Advisor Travel to 
Washington to Discuss Stimulus

Office of Economic Opportunity Director Julito Francis and Nathan Simmonds, Senior Policy Advisor to the Governor are in Washington, D.C. ahead of a meeting Thursday with Vice President Joe Biden and members of the Obama Administration.

“The $787 billion stimulus act is expected to have a tremendous impact in our Territory as it provides a unique opportunity for us to improve and help transform the quality of life for our people and my Administration is committed to making this a reality. This day-long meeting in Washington is part of the process,” de Jongh said.

The Vice-President called on the nation’s governors to deploy their stimulus czars to the all-day meeting at the White House on Thursday. The goal of the meeting is to ensure that the implementation of stimulus funds provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is effective, transparent and efficient. 

“This meeting in Washington will also allow for Director Francis to interact with the other appointed economic opportunity czars from around the country to share ideas and discuss the ARRA with members of the Obama Administration,” added the Governor.

Joined by Washington Counsel, Attorney Peter N. Hiebert of Winston and Strawn, the two GVI officials will obtain more information on how the implementation oversight will work. The agenda will include presentations from a number of Cabinet Secretaries and the Chairman of the Recovery Act Transparency and Accountability Board. 

President Obama has asked Vice President Biden to head up the oversight of the ARRA’s implementation. 

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