The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee will meet this morning to gauge the progress in spending federal stimulus dollars.

The committee, chaired by U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, (D-Hawai'i) is to meet at 9:30 a.m. in Room 325 of the state Capitol.

More than $1 billion was appropriated for Hawai'i in February through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and Inouye is scheduled to receive status reports and question government officials.

His office says Inouye wants to ensure the federal funds are being used to fund projects, create jobs and bolster support services.

The meeting's witness list includes Gov. Linda Lingle, state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa and Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann.