Rush responds to WBEZ Radio's exclusive report on ARRA-funded projects

CHICAGO –– In response to WBEZ Chicago public radio's exclusive report on the level of Illinois-based minority contractor participation in resources provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), compiled from data they received as a result of their Freedom of Information Request to the Illinois Department of Transportation, U. S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush (IL-01) offered this statement:

"I am very aware of the fact that many ARRA-funded projects in Illinois are not being fulfilled by minority-owned contractors, especially those led by African American-owned companies.  For many years, I have worked tirelessly to address the myriad factors that contribute to the fact that our state has too few qualified contractors to compete, effectively, with general market companies.  There are many factors that contribute to this including the general lack of information about when contracts are being let as well as several structural barriers—from the inability to get certified pursuant to state standards to things like the slower cash flow of government-run projects and the disparate impact it has on small business payrolls.  These and other barriers are the issues my staff and I work on, literally, day in and day out.

"I want my constituents to know that I've recently met with U. S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and the top executive he's assigned to address this issue, Brandon Neal, Director of the DOT's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, about ways to increase minority participation in federally-funded construction projects.

"In addition, last week, several of my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus and I met with Vice President Joe Biden on this and related economic issues surrounding the federal government's efforts to quickly infuse states and local communities with targeted, ARRA-funded projects—projects that I voted for earlier this year.  The Vice President was forceful and specific in outlining the actions the Obama Administration continues to take to ensure that the resources we voted for find its way, as soon as possible, to the communities that need it most. The Vice President was emphatic in stressing that he is rigorously holding all government agencies accountable for doing all they can to get resources out to the states right away and I was very reassured by his leadership and passionate commitment to the American people."

Here's a link to the story WBEZ radio posted to its website, entitled "Are Stimulus Dollars Working for Minority Contractors in Illinois?":  http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/Content.aspx?audioID=36732