A cursory review of the amended American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that is expected to be approved by the Senate early next week suggests that travelers may directly benefit from some of its provisions.
Here’s the full version of the bill. (Click on the fourth option, Amended in Senate.)
For example, the massive $780 billion stimulus bill provides $1.2 billion for the installation of checked baggage explosives detection systems and checkpoint explosives detection equipment. Does this mean we’ll get to carry our liquids and gels through those checkpoints, now?
If you love national parks, you’re in good company. So does the government. It’s earmarked $158 million for the parks, which doesn’t include $55 million for historic preservation and $589 million for construction.
America’s highways get $27 billion and the Federal Aviation Administration gets about $200 million for infrastructure improvements. There’s also just over $1 billion for airport improvements.
Prefer to ride the train? The bill sets aside $2 billion for high-speed rail projects. Public transit projects get $8.4 billion.
If you leave your cell phone at home when you go on vacation and catch up on email at the library, you’ll like this: That $9 billion “Broadband Technology Opportunities Program” includes $200 million for expanding public computer center capacity, including at community colleges and public libraries.
The bill also sets aside $500 million for what it calls “exploration.”
That could be one heck of an adventure vacation.
See anything in the bill that looks interesting? Your comments are appreciated, either by email or directly on the site.
