Legislative Update: President Obama Signs FY 2014 Omnibus Appropriations Legislation Funding Government Agencies through September 30

On January 17, 2014, President Barack Obama signed an omnibus appropriations bill (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, or P.L. 113-76) providing funding for government agencies for fiscal year (FY) 2014, including $80.3 million for ARC's nonhighway programs. This figure is $15.4 million more than the Commission's FY 2013 post-sequester funding level of $64.9 million. The legislation specifies that $10 million of that amount is for a program of high-speed broadband deployment in economically distressed counties in Central Appalachia that have been most negatively impacted by the downturn in the coal industry, to diversify and enhance regional business development.

The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives had approved the legislation on January 16 and 15, respectively.