Legislative Update: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves FY 2016 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill Containing $105 Million for ARC

On May 21, the Senate Committee on Appropriations approved its fiscal year (FY) 2016 energy and water development appropriations bill, which provides $105 million for ARC�s nonhighway programs. This amount is $15 million more than ARC received for FY 2015 and $10 million more than the amount included in the House of Representatives� FY 2016 energy and water development bill, approved on May 1.

Of the $105 million, $25 million is allocated for the administration�s proposed POWER+ Plan (PDF: 58 KB) to help communities that have been adversely impacted by changes in the coal industry and power sector; this is the amount requested for that program in the president�s proposed FY 2016 budget. The $105 million also includes $10 million to continue a workforce training program focused primarily on the automotive supplier industry in Southern Appalachia and on the aviation sector in South Central Appalachia. ARC�s base program would continue to receive funding at its FY 2015 funding level of $70 million.

The full Senate is expected to consider the measure later this summer.