The White House on Tuesday released state-by-state details on the local impact of the US$787-billion economic stimulus bill, which is designed to pull the United States out of the worst economic crisis since the 1930s.

The figures released by the White House included detailed estimates of how many jobs the sweeping stimulus package would create in each state, and in each congressional district as well.

Based on an analysis by the White House Council of Economic Advisers, the bill, known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will meet the goal of creating or saving at least 3.5 million jobs over the next two years.

Jobs created will be in a range of industries from clean energy to health care, with over 90 percent in the private sector, according to a White House press release.

Nearly 40 percent of the bill will be provided in direct relief to working and middle class families.

The package includes a tax credit for 95 percent of workers and their families. In addition, it provides direct relief for families by expanding unemployment insurance and offering payments to Social Security beneficiaries and veterans. It also provides aid to states for fiscal relief.

Meanwhile, a US$150-billion investment will be made in infrastructure -- the largest investment since the interstate highway system in the 1950s.

It includes investments in building public transit and high speed rail, upgrading the electricity grid, and expanding broadband coverage throughout the nation.

The bill will create a Clean Energy Finance Authority to provide loan guarantees and other financial support to help ease credit constraints for renewable energy investors and catalyze new private sector investment.

The Obama administration's goal is to double renewable energy generating capacity over three years -- enough to power 6 million American homes.

"The legislation represents the most ambitious effort to stimulate the economy in our nation's history," the White House said.

US President Barack Obama signed the massive economic stimulus bill into law in Denver, Colorado, On Tuesday afternoon.

The bill marked "the beginning of the first steps to set our economy on a firmer foundation, paving the way to long-term growth and prosperity," the president said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 18, 2009)