Capito, Portman lead bipartisan effort to protect federal funds for supporting economy in Appalachia

U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Rob Portman (R-OH) led a bipartisan call this week for President Donald Trump to continue federal support for the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), a federal-state partnership that has created economic opportunities across a distressed 13-state region.

Established in 1965, ARC has worked with states, local governments and private businesses to support job creation, education and critical infrastructure and has helped generate billions of dollars in new economic investments in Appalachia.

Over the decades, ARC has invested in more than 25,000 projects across the region, totaling $3.8 billion, while generating 312,000 jobs and $10 billion in added earnings to the region.

The White House submitted a budget blueprint to Congress earlier this month that proposed elimination of federal funding for ARC.

In a letter to the president the senators said, “For 52 years the Appalachian Regional Commission has played an instrumental role in reducing poverty rates, providing economic opportunities and extending basic necessities to communities throughout Appalachia. As president, we hope you recognize the tremendously positive effects the commission has had on the people of Appalachia and continue to provide support for the agency so that it may carry on its mission of empowering rural America.”

Ten senators from six states signed the bipartisan letter, including U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH).

The lawmakers argued that eliminating the essential program would have devastating consequences for the more than 25 million Americans that live in the Appalachian region.

“While ARC has played a prominent role in improving the quality of life in Appalachia, the work of the commission is not complete,” the letter states. “Despite the economic progress made in the region, many communities in Appalachia face unemployment rates higher than the national average and lack the high-quality jobs needed to attract and retain workers. The citizens of Appalachia are also susceptible to poorer health outcomes than individuals located outside the region.”

This week the ARC announced $2.4 million in investments to help diversify the economy in Appalachia’s coal-impacted communities. The investments will create and retain hundreds of jobs in advanced manufacturing and agriculture, help build a workforce through the region’s community colleges, and identify additional opportunities for economic growth in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania, the commission said.