June 21, 2007
 
Space Gets Commitment for $30 Million More in ARC Funding; Action Reverses Funding Cuts for Agency
 
By HNN Staff
from Zack Space news release
 
Washington, DC (HNN) -- As the culmination of a lengthy campaign to reverse a proposed $30 million cut that would have been devastating to the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), Congressman Zack Space, D-OH, on Wednesday, June 20, 2007 secured promises from House leaders that the cut would be restored.
 
The agreement came on the heels of a Space House amendment that pushed leaders to agree to the commitment even before a vote was taken.
 
That reversal came after the same leaders had balked at an earlier commitment to fight for ARC to be funded at $65 million.
 
"Today is a real victory for the Appalachian Regional Commission and for the persuasive power of a good cause," said Space. "The Appalachian Regional Commission is absolutely critical to so many communities from New York to Mississippi."
 
"In southeastern Ohio, the ARC is the lifeblood of so many of our towns and communities. That's why I fought so hard to get an agreement that this funding would be restored. I knew that a gutted ARC would be devastating. That's why I fought in every way that I could to get an agreement that this funding would be restored."
 
Space also indicated that he would continue to be at the forefront of making sure that the Senate went along with the agreement. "There is still a long way to go in seeing this through, but at every step of the way, I will be there to push and fight because I know how important these issues are to the people of the 18th Congressional District."
 
"We've made enormous strides in bringing the region closer to economic parity with the rest of the nation, but we still have a long way to go. We simply cannot stop now."
 
Under the current Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, the ARC budget has been slashed by $30 million. Space offered would restore funding to the previous level of $65 million. This level of funding is equal to the President's funding request for the program.
 
Without Space's reversal today, the focus of the lower funding would have been for "distressed" counties. Only one of Ohio's 18th Congressional District's fourteen ARC counties would have received funding.
 
Since 1965, the ARC has made enormous strides in bringing the region closer to economic parity after being underserved for centuries. The ARC has created economic opportunities and improved the quality of life to improving the quality of life for the 23 million Americans in the Region by working closely with its federal, state, and private sector partners and local communities.
 
Zack Space represents Ohio's 18th Congressional District. Elected in 2006, he is working to restore integrity to the office, expand Ohio's economy, and support renewable energy.