[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 106 (Friday, July 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1341-E1342]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2012

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. MICHAEL H. MICHAUD

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 11, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2354) making 
     appropriations for energy and water development and related 
     agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, and 
     for other purposes:

  Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Chair, I rise today in opposition of the 
McClintock amendment to H.R. 2354, the Energy and Water Development 
Appropriations Act of 2012.
  This amendment would eliminate regional economic development 
commissions, and I believe that it comes at exactly the wrong time for 
thousands of communities throughout the United States.
  Regional development commissions have a successful track record of 
spurring much needed investment into the economic development of 
distressed communities. They should be preserved and expanded, not 
eliminated.
  One of these commissions directly contributes to the economy in my 
home State of Maine. The Northern Border Regional Commission, NBRC, is 
charged with investing in the economic development of the most 
distressed areas of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and northern New 
York.
  By working directly with each state and existing economic development 
districts, the NBRC is in a unique position to address our region's 
shared challenges and obstacles in a coordinated way that cuts across 
state lines.
  Since fiscal year 2010, the NBRC has been funded at $1.5 million. 
Despite these limited resources, it has already awarded $1.3 million to 
meaningful projects throughout the region.
  For example, last September, the NBRC made its first investments in 
Maine, including an expansion of the Port of Eastport, which is part of 
a project that will result in the retention of 18 jobs and the creation 
of 26 new ones.
  The NBRC is now preparing to accept applications for a second round 
of projects, which will spur additional investment and job creation 
through our region.
  If Congress eliminates funding for the NBRC, it cannot build on the 
progress that has already been made. The NBRC and other commissions 
like it would not be able to continue their mission of creating and 
protecting job opportunities in some of the most economically 
disadvantaged parts of our country.
  Madam Chair, during tough economic times it is unacceptable to shut 
down these commissions, which share a common mission of partnering with 
states and local communities to create jobs and further economic 
development.

[[Page E1342]]

  I urge my colleagues to reject the McClintock amendment.

                          ____________________