Senator Clinton Honored by the Development District Association of Appalachia March 2006

WASHINGTON, March 15, 2006--U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton was honored March 14 for her strong support and commitment to the people of Appalachia by the Development District Association of Appalachia (DDAA) during its annual training conference in Arlington, Virginia.

A strong proponent of the Appalachian Regional Commission's (ARC) mission to help bring the Region into socioeconomic parity with the nation, Clinton helped lead a successful bipartisan effort to pass an historic five-year reauthorization for ARC signed by the president in 2002.

Since her election to the United States Senate in November 2000, Clinton has been a consistent advocate for a regional approach to economic and community development in the 14 Appalachian counties in New York's Southern Tier. Her support in Congress for the use of advanced telecommunications and technology for economic development has helped ARC invest more than $32 million over the last four years in telecommunications, technology training, and other technology development in Appalachian communities.

"It is a great honor to receive the Congressional Award from the Development District Association of Appalachia," Clinton said. "I appreciate greatly being nominated by my fellow New Yorkers. Together we've worked to spur economic growth in the Southern Tier, and now we need to continue making smart investments in transportation, broadband, and other technologies that will drive the twenty-first-century economy in New York."

ARC Federal Co-Chair Anne B. Pope said, "Being selected by the 72 Appalachian development districts is truly an honor. Senator Clinton joins a select group of public servants, including Robert C. Byrd, Thad Cochran, John Warner, and Bill Frist, recognized for their service to the people of Appalachia."

Clinton's involvement has also been instrumental in ARC's groundbreaking partnership with Microsoft Corporation, which has brought $2 million in "Unlimited Potential" software grants to nonprofit organizations that provide computer access, job-skills training, and community development support in the 13 Appalachian states.

Clinton serves on the Committees on Armed Services; Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; and Environment and Public Works; and on the Special Committee on Aging.

The Congressional Award is presented each year by the DDAA to a member of Congress for outstanding service to the people of Appalachia and support of the work of the local development districts and ARC. Local development districts nominate potential recipients, and the DDAA board makes the final selection. Clinton was nominated by the DDAA member organization Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board based in Salamanca, New York.

The DDAA is a public, nonprofit organization made up of Appalachia's 72 multicounty planning and development districts. Its members work closely with ARC, other federal and state agencies, and local residents to identify and address economic development needs and opportunities in their communities.