Legislative Update: House, Senate Act on ARC FY 2004 Funding Legislation July 2003

On July 18, the U.S. House of Representatives passed its FY 2004 energy and water development appropriations bill, which contains $33.1 million for the Appalachian Regional Commission's nonhighway programs. On July 17, the Senate Committee on Appropriations approved its version of the legislation, which includes $71 million for ARC for FY 2004. This is the same amount ARC received for its programs in FY 2003. The full Senate is expected to act on the legislation in early September. A House-Senate conference to reconcile the two bills is also expected in September.