Legislative Update: Senate Committee Approves ARC Reauthorization Legislation March 2007

On March 29, 2007, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works unanimously approved a five-year reauthorization of ARC’s nonhighway programs. The legislation is a slightly modified version of a bill Senator George Voinovich (R-OH) introduced in February. The bill renews ARC’s general authority for five years, through 2011, and increases the agency’s authorized funding level, starting at $95.2 million for fiscal year (FY) 2007 and increasing to $109.4 million for FY 2011. It also requires the Commission to designate economically “at-risk” counties and permits it to fund 70 percent of the costs of projects funded by ARC in those counties. The measure also creates a new general energy authority for the Commission. The legislation will now go to the full Senate for consideration.