The following is a compilation of recent economic stimulus proposals offered by the incoming administration, congressional lawmakers and private industry organizations. These proposals are not necessarily endorsed or supported by NUCA and/or the Clean Water Council. They are simply being reported to you as options that would impact (either positively or negatively) the underground utility construction industry. 

President-elect Obama
Although the specifics have not been released, the President-elect has laid out the concept for an economic recovery package expected to cost $775-$800 billion. In an attempt to garner Republican support, the proposal is said to include $300 billion (or up to 40%) in tax cuts, a third of which would go toward assisting the business sector. Among the proposed items are a $3,000 per-job tax credit to companies that hire new workers and "carryback" provisions to allow money-losing companies to get instant refunds for taxes they paid over the past five years. Carryback provisions allow companies to use past losses as a tax credit; this would extend the two-year carryback provision in current law to five years. It is anticipated that the Obama plan will also include considerable investment in America's infrastructure, although specifics and proposed funding levels have yet to be provided.

Military Construction
While the Democratic Leadership works on the House's economic recovery package, Rep. John Murtha (D-Penn.) is taking a lead role in the defense-related funding in the bill, which is said to be in the neighborhood of $10 billion. Murtha suggests that almost all of this money be directed to shoring up facilities at military bases across the country, with considerable resources aimed at improving water and sewage treatment facilities, hospitals and other base infrastructure. 

Agriculture
$2 billion, rural water and wastewater treatment systems - Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Chairman, Senate Agriculture Committee

$1.4 billion toward backlogged upgrades to water, wastewater and community facilities projects - Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC), former chair, House Subcommittee on Specialty Crops, Rural Development and Foreign Agriculture