Trone, McKinley, Introduce Legislation to Reauthorize Appalachian Regional Commission
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Hannah Muldavin (Trone): Hannah.Muldavin@mail.house.gov
Amanda Hyman (McKinley): Amanda.Hyman@mail.house.gov
Trone, McKinley, Introduce Legislation to Reauthorize Appalachian Regional Commission
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, Representatives David Trone (D-Md.) and David B. McKinley P.E. (R-W.Va.) introduced legislation to promote economic development in Appalachia.
The Appalachian Regional Commission Reauthorization Act H.R. 4434 will reauthorize the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) through 2025. The bill will authorize funding for the ARC at a level of $180 million with $20 million of that specifically dedicated to broadband deployment in Appalachia. Full text of the bill can be read here.
“Continuous funding for the Appalachian region through ARC is essential to creating a strong infrastructure and economy in a region that feels left behind,” said Rep. David Trone. “At my rural broadband roundtable in Western Maryland this month I heard loud and clear that we need more funding for rural broadband. I am happy we can deliver on this need in the Appalachian Regional Commission Reauthorization Act.”
“The ARC has played a vital role in helping communities throughout Appalachia pursue economic development and diversify their economies,” Rep. David McKinley said. “We have seen firsthand in West Virginia the positive impacts ARC funding can have on a community. This bill provides continued support for the ARC so that they can keep helping rural communities for years to come, while also modernizing it by focusing on broadband infrastructure development.”
The ARC plays a central role in economic development across the 13-state Appalachian region. This reauthorization ensures that the ARC will continue to support infrastructure projects, job training, and other activities targeted toward improving economic opportunities.
Congressman David Trone was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2018 to serve the 6th District of Maryland, where he has continuously fought for increased access to rural broadband. In April, the House passed his amendment that would help spur high-speed broadband deployment across Western Maryland. In June, the House passed a bipartisan Trone amendment that would increase funding for grants by $5 million to expand broadband deployment into rural communities that are underserved by private sector investment. This month, Trone held a rural broadband roundtable in Hagerstown with over 43 stakeholders to discuss the importance of broadband in Western Maryland.
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