[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6528-6529]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION 50TH ANNIVERSARY

 Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, this spring, we celebrate the 50th 
anniversary of President Johnson signing legislation to establish the 
Appalachian Regional Commission, ARC.
  The ARC represents a unique partnership between Federal, State and 
local government in 13 Appalachian States with the aim to address 
persistent poverty in Appalachian regions. In Virginia, 25 counties and 
8 cities are part of that region. Since its inception, the Appalachian 
Regional Commission has worked to combat problems such as poor health, 
limited transportation infrastructure, and the digital divide. Over the 
past 50 years, ARC has funded projects that assisted in the reduction 
of distressed communities in the Commonwealth by providing assistance 
for water and wastewater projects, encouraging the adoption of advanced 
technologies such as broadband service, and supporting the development 
of community leaders and entrepreneurs. ARC has also recognized the 
importance of economic development that encourages tourism to help 
create communities where people want to live, work and visit.
  In 1960, 43.2 percent of people lived in poverty in Virginia's 
Appalachian Region. That number has decreased to

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18.6 percent today. In 1970, 28 percent of homes lacked complete 
plumbing. Today, that number has been reduced to 4 percent. This 
progress exemplifies ARC's steadfast commitment toward achieving its 
objective to increase job opportunities and per capita income, 
strengthen the capacity of Appalachia's citizens to compete in the 
global economy, improve the region's infrastructure, and build the 
Appalachian Development Highway System, ADHS.
  Great strides have been made in Virginia's Appalachian Region, but 
more work remains. I am proud to have signed a letter to the chairman 
and ranking member on Appropriations requesting fiscal year 2016 ARC 
funding at the President's budget request of $93 million. This critical 
work must continue until the 25 million Americans who live in the 
Appalachian Regions are helped out of poverty and can achieve 
socioeconomic parity with the Nation.
  With the Appalachian Regional Commission's continued work and 
determination, I am confident that the region will continue toward 
economic progress, growth, and development.

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