Washington, DC - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton announced that she had joined with Senator George Voinovich (R-OH) to reintroduce the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Reauthorization Act. The bill reauthorizes the work of the Appalachian Regional Commission until 2011 and provides an appropriate federal matching rate for ARC-funded projects in eligible counties.

"The Appalachian Regional Commission provides valuable economic revitalization tools to help promote development and job creation in New York's Southern Tier. I have been proud to work with the ARC on a number of initiatives for the Southern Tier and I am pleased to support their ongoing work in this way. Reauthorization of ARC will allow the agency to continue its important work to support communities, encourage small business and foster economic growth," said Senator Clinton.

The ARC provides communities in the Appalachian Region with tools to help bolster businesses and spur local economic development. The reauthorization continues all existing ARC general programs, including the special program in telecommunications and technology, which Senator Clinton has fought to fully fund. The bill also provides funding of over $95 million annually for the next five years and permits ARC to fund projects in fragile economies up to 70 percent of the cost of the project.

Senator Clinton has long fought to support the ARC, joining in past years with Senator Voinovich, as well as Senator John D. Rockefeller (D-WV) to write President Bush urging him to retain vital funding for this Commission. Senator Clinton also worked to pass amendments to the Appalachian Regional Development Act.

Created by Congress in 1965, the ARC is a partnership between governors of 13 states, a federal representative and a grassroots network of local elected officials, and community and business leaders. It includes several counties in New York's Southern Tier, including Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Schoharie, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, and Tompkins.

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