Keystone Research Center ∙ 717.255.7181 ∙ www.keystoneresearch.org Budget and Policy Center ∙ 717.255.7156 ∙ www.pennbpc.org Recovery Act Conference Agenda & Overview

Back From the Brink: The Recovery Act One Year Later WHEN: Friday, January 15, 2010, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM WHERE: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 23 S. Second Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 SPONSORS: The Keystone Research Center, Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, The Pennsylvania Works! Campaign, and their partners (American Rivers, Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future [PennFuture], Community Legal Services, The Education Policy and Leadership Center, The Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, United Way of Pennsylvania, and 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania) are hosting a conference on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Goals of Recovery Act Conference On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed ARRA, which invests $787 billion over two years to bring the U.S. economy back from the brink of collapse. This conference will assess the impact of the Recovery Act to date on GDP, jobs, unemployment, and poverty in the United States and Pennsylvania. Speakers will also provide an overview of Recovery Act implementation in Pennsylvania and examine the ways in which Recovery Act funds have supported key Pennsylvania priorities, including smart growth, equity, and energy independence. Lastly, we will identify opportunities to retool implementation and reshape Recovery Act investments to maximize the benefits to Pennsylvania residents in the future. Conference Draft Agenda 8:00 – 9:00 AM Registration 9:00 – 9:15 AM Welcome: Stephen Herzenberg, Keystone Research Center 9:15 – 9:50 AM Plenary Session: The Impact of the Recovery Act on Jobs and the Economy Speakers: Ethan Pollack, Economic Policy Institute; Mark Price, KRC Economist The speakers will discuss the macroeconomic impact of the Recovery Act and what might have happened had it not been passed. 9:50 – 10:30 AM Plenary Session: Putting Federal Dollars to Work—An Overview of the Recovery Act in PA Speaker: James Creedon, Chief Implementation Officer, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania This session will give the audience a broad overview of how Recovery Act funds in Pennsylvania are being spent. 10:30 – 11:15 AM Recovery Act Keynote Speaker: U.S. Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. Introduction of Robert P. Casey, Jr., William M. George, President, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Senator Casey will reflect on the debates in Washington on the Recovery Act and the need and prospects for further action to boost job creation.

The Recovery Act Conference Agenda Page | 2

11:15 AM – Breakout Groups: Progress to Date and Opportunities for Improvement 12:30 PM In three breakout sessions, Recovery Act implementation officials and issue-advocates will consider the following questions: How did we use Recovery Act dollars, what have they achieved, and what could we have been done better? Smart Growth, Transportation, and Infrastructure Moderator: Judy Schwank, 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania Panelists: Paul Marchetti, Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority; James Ritzman, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation; Liz Garland, American Rivers; Kelly Lewis, Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania Transparency and Accountability Moderator: Tony Ross, United Way of Pennsylvania Panelists: Eileen McNulty, Pennsylvania Stimulus Oversight Commission; Greg LeRoy, Good Jobs First; Barry Kauffman, Common Cause/Pennsylvania Local Governments and Housing Moderator: Elizabeth Hersh, The Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania Panelists: George Klaus, USDA Rural Development; Lauren Giguere, City of Allentown

12:30 – 1:30 PM Lunch Panel: Is the Recovery Act Keeping People Out of Poverty? Speakers: Michael Leachman, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities; Kenneth Stephens, Legal Aid Society Speakers will discuss several aspects of the Recovery Act that combat poverty. 1:30 – 2:45 PM Afternoon Breakout Groups: Progress to Date and Opportunities for Improvement In three breakout sessions, Recovery Act implementation officials and issue-advocates will consider the following questions: How did we use Recovery Act dollars, what have they achieved, and what could we have been done better? Energy and Environment Moderator: Ed Boito, Citizens For Pennsylvania’s Future (PennFuture) Panelists: , Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; E. Craig Heim, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development; Russell McIntosh, Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. Education and Workforce Moderator: Seth Green, Job Opportunity Investment Network Panelists: Teresa Colarusso, Pennsylvania Department of Education; Scott Sheely, Lancaster Workforce Investment Board; Carol Austin, Philadelphia Youth Network Community Impact and Regional Equity Moderator: Sharon Ward, Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center Panelists: Peter Speaks, Deputy Secretary, Department of General Services; Della Clark, The Enterprise Center; Bernadette Turner, Regional Equity Monitoring Project; Greg

LeRoy, Good Jobs First 2:45 – 3:00 PM Break 3:00 – 4:00 PM Wrap-Up and Final Roundtable: Next Steps for U.S. and Pennsylvania Jobs Moderator: Stephen Herzenberg, Keystone Research Center Panelists: William M. George, President, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO; John Hanger, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; Sharon Ward, Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center Speakers will lead a roundtable discussion on the next steps needed to ensure a strong, equitable, and sustainable recovery in the United States and in Pennsylvania.