THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF UNITED STATES SENATOR ROBERT BYRD.

Washington, D.C…. U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., today announced that a funding boost of $85 million may be on its way to the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). Byrd, who is the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, added an additional $20 million above the President’s budget request of $65 million for ARC’s continued operations and grant programs to the Fiscal Year 2009 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill. The next step for the legislation is debate before the full Senate.

“I am pleased and proud of my efforts in establishing the ARC, and in ensuring the ongoing funding of this critical mission,” Byrd said.

ARC was created by Congress in 1965, and strongly supported by Senator Byrd, to boost the quality of life in West Virginia and portions of 12 other Appalachian states. Since then, ARC has been providing help to people living in the 13-state Appalachian region who have suffered because economic progress in other parts of the country has bypassed their region. ARC’s core mission is to improve basic infrastructure, boost job opportunities, and open access to health care.

“Nearly forty-three years after the Appalachian Regional Commission was established, while much progress has been made in job opportunities, education, and health care, parts of Appalachia remain a step behind the rest of the country. The role of ARC remains as important today as it was in 1965,” Byrd said.

Since ARC was founded, the thirteen state Appalachian region has taken significant steps to overcome its isolation. Yet, the region still lags behind the nation in many respects.

“The cycle of poverty in Appalachia remains all too prevalent. Too many children go hungry. Too many families have no access to nearby health care. With the many challenges before us, there clearly remains more work to be accomplished by the Appalachian Regional Commission,” Byrd stated.

Despite the clear need for ARC, the Bush Administration has not been a consistent friend to the ARC. Over the years, Senator Byrd has taken the lead in fighting proposed cuts by the Administration. Such drastic reductions in ARC would have set progress in Appalachia back by years.

“Now is the time to expand the partnerships and protect the initiatives that are moving West Virginia and the entire Appalachian region toward a brighter tomorrow,” Byrd added.