Legislative Update: House Acts on ARC’s FY 2007 Funding Legislation; Senate Committee Approves ARC Reauthorization Legislation May 2006

On May 24, 2006, the U.S. House of Representatives approved its fiscal year (FY) 2007 energy and water development appropriations bill, which contains the Appalachian Regional Commission's FY 2007 nonhighway funding. The bill provides $35.5 million for ARC. President Bush's budget for FY 2007 requested funding of $65 million, level with ARC's FY 2006 funding. The House bill includes $9.3 million in earmarks for projects in Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, and West Virginia. The Senate has not yet started work on its version of the legislation.

On May 23, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works unanimously approved legislation introduced by Senator George Voinovich reauthorizing the Appalachian Regional Commission for five years, through 2011. The measure (S. 2832) would continue all of ARC's existing programs without change and set authorization levels at $95.2 million for fiscal year (FY) 2007; $98.6 million for FY 2008; $102 million for FY 2009; $105.7 million for FY 2010; and $109.4 million for FY 2011. The House has not yet started work on the legislation.