WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released the following statement today regarding approval by the Senate Appropriations Committee of $142 million for the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). Of the $142 million for ARC included in the Fiscal Year 2018 Senate Energy & Water Appropriations bill, $50 million is specifically for coal communities and $6 million is specifically for infrastructure projects in Central Appalachia.

“I have long been a supporter of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), the only government agency whose main purpose should be to help poor and disadvantaged communities in the Appalachian region. ARC is very important to the people and communities in Eastern Kentucky and I was pleased to support the funding included in the Senate Appropriations bill,” said Senator McConnell, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

NOTE: In 1995, Senator McConnell took steps to save ARC, which was on the verge of being eliminated, by securing legislation in the budget to restore funding for the agency.