Chuck Fleischmann: “I claim the time in opposition. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would cut funding for the Appalachian Regional Commission…”

“I claim the time in opposition. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would cut funding for the Appalachian Regional Commission, which supports hundreds of cost-shared projects, partnering with private industry to bring needed jobs to this depressed region. The underlying energy and water bill maintains funding for the ARC at the fiscal year 2024 level of $200 million, which was the same as the fiscal 2023 enacted level. These communities cannot afford to lose the millions of dollars in private investment this commission leverages. I respectfully urge a ``no'' vote on the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.”