WASHINGTON - U.S. Representatives Edolphus “Ed” Towns (NY-10), Yvette Clarke (NY-11) and Michael McMahon (NY-13) today announced that the United States General Services Administration (GSA) awarded two historic Federal Brooklyn buildings more than $62 million in Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) funds.  The stimulus funds will help convert the Emanuel Celler Courthouse and Brooklyn General Post Office into high-performance, energy efficient buildings.  

Members of the Brooklyn delegation offered their remarks on the GSA stimulus awards:

Rep. Towns: “The funding awarded to renovate these two landmark buildings in the heart of Brooklyn is a perfect example of how stimulus dollars are benefiting our communities and transforming our infrastructure to become more energy efficient,” said Rep. Towns.  “These construction projects will help boost our local economy by creating quality, high-paying jobs, while installing state-of-the-art green technology in Brooklyn landmarks to increase their energy efficiency.”

Rep. Clark: “This announcement is proof that President Obama’s stimulus is working.  Some of my colleagues in Congress have been asking, ‘where are the jobs?’  These two projects announced by the GSA give us a $63 million answer: the jobs are coming to Brooklyn.  These funds will contribute to the ongoing transformation to a green economy and provide much needed economic activity in our beloved Brooklyn,” said Congresswoman Clarke.

Rep. McMahon: “Today’s announcement from the General Services Administration is a huge win for Brooklyn and its residents,” said Rep. Michael E. McMahon.  “The over $62 million in stimulus funds that Brooklyn will receive means more jobs, energy-efficient buildings and more money into the New York City economy.  I commend Chairman Towns for pushing the Administration to fund the Emanuel Celler Courthouse and the Brooklyn General Post office to improve the quality of federal government services for all of the 2.5 million residents of our Borough.  The benefits of the stimulus are starting to be seen.”

Yesterday, GSA announced that the agency met its goal of allocating more than $1 billion in stimulus funds, of the total $5.5 billion it is set to award, by July 31, 2009t.  The allocations and locations for the two Brooklyn projects are:

•    Brooklyn General Post Office
271 Cadman Plaza East
Brooklyn, NY 11201
$58,437,699

•    Emanuel Celler U.S. Courthouse
225 Cadman Plaza East
Brooklyn, NY 11201
$4,652,250

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