Committee passes Capito’s bipartisan economic development bill

The U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee on March 12 marked up and approved the bipartisan Economic Development Reauthorization Act of 2024, which is cosponsored by U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV).

S. 3891, which Sen. Capito helped lead with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE), would reauthorize the Economic Development Administration (EDA) for the first time in nearly 20 years, and would make key reforms to modernize EDA’s core programs.

“Today, the EPW Committee took an important step for local communities across the country by passing” this bill, said Sen. Capito, the committee’s ranking member, on Tuesday. “This bipartisan legislation will help the EDA carry out its mission to drive investment, create jobs, and grow our local economies in West Virginia.”

If enacted, S. 3891 also would authorize activities, such as workforce development and disaster assistance, and also authorize dedicated funding for the Assistance to Coal Communities program within the Economic Adjustment Assistance Program, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Capito’s staff.

Among several other provisions, the more than 100-page bill also would authorize and update the laws pertaining to certain federal regional commissions, as well as establish two new regional commissions, the summary says.

The Senate EPW Committee on Tuesday also welcomed West Virginia economic development district leaders to its business meeting as the panel voted to advance S. 3891 to the full chamber.