Appalachian Regional Development Act Amendments of 2008
APPALACHIAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACT AMENDMENTS OF 2008 -- (House of Representatives - July 15, 2008)
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Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today in support of S. 496, the Appalachian Regional Development Act Amendments of 2008. I would like to thank Chairman Oberstar, Chairwoman NORTON, Ranking Member Mica, Ranking Member Graves and also my colleague from Ohio, Representative Space, for their steadfast support of the Commission and for the people of Appalachia.
As a Member of Congress from West Virginia, I can attest to the tremendous work the Appalachian Regional Commission, or the ARC as it is called, has done to bring clean water, safe roads, new jobs and a better quality of life to millions of people in the Appalachian region.
Over the last few years, the ARC has made a number of investments in my district, including an economic development strategy and business incubator in Elkins, a child care facility in Moorefield, and the new Corridor H highway.
The Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965 established the ARC to promote regional coordination and develop projects that will trigger jobs, economic growth, and a better quality of life. The Commission is led by two co-chairmen. One is Presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed, and the other is selected by the Governors of the participating States. As my colleague mentioned, the Commission includes all or part of 13 States, including the entire State of West Virginia, parts of Tennessee, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Mississippi. The House companion bill passed the House last year. The Senate bill we are considering today includes an amendment that reflects our agreement with the Senate on the differences.
The bill reauthorizes the Commission for 5 years. In addition, the bill amends current law to allow the Commission to cover up to 70 percent of costs for projects that address problems in communities at risk of becoming distressed in the region. These programs include infrastructure projects, demonstration health projects, housing projects and initiatives for telecommunications, technology and entrepreneurship.
This bill also authorizes the creation, as my colleague mentioned, of the Economic and Energy Development Initiative, which I think is a great addition, which will provide grants to develop new alternatives for utilizing our vast conventional energy resources. I'm also pleased that this compromise includes language from the House bill which would discourage earmarking projects in future appropriation bills.
Leveraging Federal funds in West Virginia and the other Appalachian States has helped dramatically improve our communities over the years. The investment has resulted in a reduction of poverty, the creation of jobs, and the improvement of health and education. We still have a ways to go. And that is why I think this bill is extremely important for reauthorization today.
The work of the Commission is an example of the Federal and State partnership that has promoted economic growth in needed areas and distressed areas of high unemployment and high poverty so that these communities can begin to prosper independently in the future.
Thank you again. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I would just like to offer my gratitude to all of the Members who have worked so hard on this. This is extremely important to my home State of West Virginia. My entire State is part of the ARC. I mentioned several projects in my State. The gentleman from Tennessee mentioned water projects. I have two going right now that are the beneficiaries of ARC funding.
I think it is important to realize, too, that this is a partnership between the Federal Government and the States. By leveraging ARC funds just this year, $9.55 million in my State of West Virginia, has resulted in another $16 million of additional investment.
This part of our country has historically struggled, and with the current energy issues that we have before us and the high price of gasoline, we are an energy-rich region of this country. We can contribute to the solutions through either coal to liquid and our natural gas reserves and other things that need to be added to a comprehensive, all-of-the-above energy plan for this country.
With that, I express my deep gratitude and also my deep commitment to the ARC and its continuation.
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