Legislative Update: House Approves ARC FY 2005 Funding Legislation; ADHS Funding Legislation in Conference June 2004

On June 25, 2004, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the FY 2005 energy and water development appropriations bill, which contains $38.5 million in funding for ARC's nonhighway programs. The House appropriations committee had approved the bill on June 16. President Bush's budget for FY 2005 requested funding of $66 million, level with ARC's FY 2004 funding. The Senate has not yet scheduled action on its version of the legislation.

Additionally, a multi-year highway bill that would provide funding for the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) through FY 2009 from the federal Highway Trust Fund is under consideration in a House-Senate conference. The Senate passed its version of the legislation in February; the House version was passed in April. From FY 1999 through FY 2003, the ADHS received annual authorizations of $450 million under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century.