The was an $825 billion economic stimulus package, passed by congress, designed to turn the economy by cutting taxes, building infrastructure, and investing in green energy.

In the early part of the 2000s, America was facing difficult economic times. Housing prices were falling and Congress approved a bank buyout. Unemployment was consistently high while gas and food prices continued to rise. The debt of America's citizens and the government was continuing to grow. In 2009, President Obama proposed a plan to save jobs, create new ones, and provide relief to those who fell to hard times due to the recession. Congress approved this plan, known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (or Recovery Act for short). The goal of the act was to utilize the $825 billion to cut taxes and give more money back to Americans, create jobs to improve transportation, provide tax breaks for those who use renewable energy.