Rep. Turner Receives Response From Vice President Biden On NCR Use Of Federal Stimulus Funds

Press Release

Mike Turner today announced that he has received an official response from Vice President Joseph Biden addressing his concern that federal stimulus dollars may have been used to fund NCR Corporation's relocation to new facilities in Duluth, GA and Columbus, GA.

In his response, Vice President Biden said "the use of federal recovery funds for the potential relocation of jobs from one State to another is not an approved use of Recovery funds." Biden's letter dated July 14added, "If the City of Columbus applied for Recovery Act funds to purchase a facility to house NCR to facilitate the relocation of jobs from Ohio to Georgia, the request would not be granted."

Vice President Biden's letter was responding to Congressman Turner and House Republican Leader John Boehner's (R-Ohio-08) letter to President Obama in early June inquiring if this was an appropriate use of federal recovery act dollars.

"The Obama Administration has finally responded to the Dayton community concerns about NCR Corporation relocation," said Rep. Turner. "Vice President Biden says no stimulus funds will be used to fund the new NCR facility. However, previous media reports and even a NCR Corporation press release announced the use of federal stimulus dollars."

Last week during a House Oversight and Government Reform committee hearing, Congressman Turner questioned U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Deputy Director Robert Nabors, on the use of federal stimulus dollars as part of an incentive package that may have lured NCR Corporation jobs from states like Ohio. Nabors promised Congressman Turner that OMB would investigate the City of Columbus use of federal stimulus dollars.

In addition, Congressman Turner sent a letter last week to Ohio Governor Ted Strickland urging him to ask Vice President Biden to investigate whether federal stimulus dollars are being used as part of an incentive package to relocate jobs from other states, including Ohio. Additionally, Turner called on Biden to use his oversight role to ensure that stimulus funds are not used as part of the package that may have resulted in shifting jobs from Ohio, and from other states, to Georgia.

Media reports in publications such as the Dayton Daily News,highlighted NCR Corporation's use of federal stimulus dollars to open new facilities in Duluth, GA and Columbus, GA. Additionally, on June 2,NCR Corporation issued a press release announcing the use of federal stimulus funds to purchase a facility in Columbus, GA.

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