“Last week, the President asked me to work with the Cabinet to find ways to accelerate our already stepped-up Recovery Act efforts.  I’m pleased to announce today that the Department of Education will be making over $2.5 billion in Recovery Act funds available to states in the coming days to support state education budgets, thereby helping states in fiscal distress.  These Recovery Act funds will enable states to move quickly to protect critical jobs and will help states cope with their immediate budgetary challenges.   I applaud Secretary Arne Duncan and his team for moving so quickly, and will continue to press the Cabinet to find ways to accelerate the pace of Recovery Act spending.”