U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers of Kentucky Honored by Development District Association of Appalachia

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2014—U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers of Kentucky received the Development District Association of Appalachia's (DDAA) 2014 Congressional Award at the DDAA annual conference in Arlington, Virginia, yesterday.

The Congressional Award is presented each year by the DDAA to a member of Congress for outstanding service to the people of Appalachia and support of the work of the Appalachian Region's local development districts and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). Local development districts nominate candidates for the award, and the DDAA board makes the final selection.

Rogers, who is chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, was recognized for his "ongoing commitment to and strong support of the Appalachian Regional Commission and its programs" as well as his "dedicated service to the people of the 13-state Appalachian Region, and especially those citizens residing in the Fifth Congressional District of Kentucky."

On receiving the award, Rogers said that ARC was instrumental to the economic development of the Appalachian Region, noting that the Commission and local development districts are "making progress and helping things grow."

"ARC's work is still needed," Rogers added. "There is still a lot of work to be done."

Rogers also underscored the need for more broadband access in the Region to create jobs.

The DDAA is a public, nonprofit organization made up of Appalachia's 73 multicounty planning and development districts. Its members work closely with ARC, other federal and state agencies, and local residents to identify and address economic development needs and opportunities in their communities.