Shaheen Applauds OMB For Improved Recovery Act Job Data

Press Release

"OMB Announces Rule Changes so that Recovery Act Data is More Accurate"

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen today applauded the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for making improvements to the system for reporting and tracking jobs created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Last week, Shaheen, along with a bipartisan group of six Senate colleagues, called on OMB Director Peter Orszag to improve the data available at Recovery.gov.

"Clear, accessible information is essential so all Americans can see the results of their investment," said Shaheen. "I applaud OMB for making these important and necessary changes to the job collection data, which will increase transparency."

Last week, a bipartisan group of Senators led by Shaheen wrote in support of the Government Accountability Office's recommendations that all federal agencies standardize the performance period for calculating full-time equivalent employees (FTEs), and that the OMB instruct recipients to calculate jobs in terms of hours worked and paid for with Recovery Act funds.

Today, OMB announced that they would be implementing the GAO recommendations that Shaheen and the bipartisan group supported. The changes will go into effect in January.

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