Legislative Update: House Approves FY 2016 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill Containing $95 Million for ARC May 2015

On May 1, 2015, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation containing $95 million for ARC's FY 2015 nonhighway programs. This amount is $5 million more than ARC's FY 2015 funding level. Of the $95 million, $15 million is allocated for the administration's proposed POWER+ Plan (PDF: 58 KB), and $10 million would continue a program of high-speed broadband deployment in economically distressed counties in Central Appalachia that have been adversely impacted by the downturn in the coal industry. ARC's regular programs would receive $70 million, as in FY 2015.

The Senate appropriations committee is expected to begin work on its energy and water development appropriations bill in the coming weeks.