WASHINGTON, November 23, 2004—On November 20, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate completed action on the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005, which provides fiscal year 2005 funding for most of the federal government, including the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).

ARC's nonhighway program is funded at $66 million, which represents the same funding level as in FY 2004 and is the amount requested in the president's budget. ARC's appropriation is subject to an across-the-board reduction of .83 percent affecting all non-defense, non-homeland security programs.

President Bush is expected to sign the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005.