[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 101 (Thursday, June 21, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1373-E1374]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL A. ARCURI

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 20, 2007

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2641) making 
     appropriations for energy and water development and related 
     agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and 
     for other purposes:

  Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this 
amendment. Unfortunately, my colleague from Texas has failed to closely 
examine the benefits the Appalachian Regional Commission has provided 
numerous economically distressed counties in the region since its 
establishment over 40 years ago.
  Mr. Chairman, the ARC has enhanced the region's economic progress by 
improving living conditions, enhancing the employability of the 
workforce, and strengthening the region's basic infrastructure.
  Simply put, the numbers speak for themselves. Since its creation, the 
ARC has reduced the number of severely distressed counties in the 
region by more than 65 percent, cut the poverty rate from 31 percent to 
15 percent, and created 1.6 million jobs.
  Mr. Chairman, my Upstate New York district has been plagued with 
struggling local economies for quite some time. Population exodus, 
significant job losses in the manufacturing sector and slow economic 
development have all contributed to the downturn in economic prosperity 
in the region.
  These communities are in dire need of exposure to new innovative 
technologies--such as alternative energy projects--and attracting 
private investment to spur economic activity and improve their quality 
of life. The ARC helps our communities do just that. The ARC provides 
the framework and the guidance for these communities to begin to move 
towards sustainable economic growth.
  Mr. Chairman, six counties in my Upstate New York district have 
experienced success as members of the ARC. The Village of Sherburne, NY 
in Chenango County is a great example of how small ARC grants are 
extremely helpful in leveraging additional funds from State, local, and 
private sources for economic development initiatives that create jobs. 
A $200,000 grant from the ARC for the enhancement of aging water 
infrastructure in Sherburne--a problem that is plaguing many States in 
the Northeast--was able to leverage close to $4 million in State and 
local community investment.
  Mr. Chairman, for each one dollar of ARC funding invested, it 
leverages $3.14 in other public funding and $11.55 in private 
investment. Now that sounds like a responsible and wise investment of 
taxpayer dollars.
  It would be unwise and irresponsible to deny the people in 13 States 
in the region the funds to help them achieve socioeconomic parity with 
the Nation. I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to oppose 
the amendment to zero-out funding for the ARC. Mr. Chairman, I also 
strongly urge my colleagues to support my freshman colleague from 
Ohio's

[[Page E1374]]

amendment to fully restore the President's FY08 budget request of $65 
million for the ARC in this bill.

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