EDA was pleased to have a 2008 reauthorization bill introduced in the Senate by Senator Barbara Boxer, and expects the House to introduce and pass a bill, hopefully early in the new Congress. In the meantime, EDA has received appropriations through March 2009 to continue its work.

• The Top 5 Reasons The Economic Development Administration Should Be Reauthorized on page one, and the Bill Summary on page two of the PDF.

• The Economic Development Administration Reauthorization Act of 2008 PDF.

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The Economic Development Administration (EDA) was established under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (PWEDA) to generate jobs, retain existing jobs, and stimulate industrial and commercial growth in the United States. EDA assistance is available to rural and urban areas of the Nation experiencing high unemployment, low income or other severe economic distress.

On October 27, 2004, President Bush signed into law the Economic Development Administration Reauthorization Act of 2004, which reauthorizes EDA’s economic development assistance programs through fiscal year 2008.