Legislative Update: House and Senate Approve ARC Fiscal Year 2004 Funding; Senate Committee Approves Multi-Year Highway Bill Containing ADHS Funding November 2003

On November 18, 2003, the full Senate and House approved the compromise version of the fiscal year 2004 energy and water development appropriations bill. The bill, which provides $66.0 million for the Appalachian Regional Commission's nonhighway programs, will now go to the White House for the president's signature.

On November 12, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved a new multi-year highway bill that would authorize $590 million per year for work on the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS). The measure would replace the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), which expired on September 30 and has been temporarily extended through February 29, 2004. The annual ADHS funding level under TEA-21 was $450 million per year. Full Senate action on the bill is not expected until next year. The House committee has not yet taken up the highway bill.