WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following statement on the appropriation of $146 million to the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) in the Omnibus spending bill. This funding is at a level $56 million more than was appropriated in FY2015. 

“The ARC is a relatively small but heavily impactful federal-state partnership that makes a real difference in the lives of Marylanders. These federal investments in people through training and infrastructure help Marylanders living in the western part of our state take an active and experienced-based approach to accessing and improving their skills, education, health services, economic development strategies and technology by connecting federal resources with local knowhow. It is that ability to leverage the unique strengths of the private sector, state, federal and local governments that makes ARC such an asset. I am pleased that Congress is providing ARC with the robust and reliable funding they need to better serve the people of Maryland.”

“I am often impressed with the innovative, job creating programs administered by ARC and look forward to updates on how this funding is improving the quality of life in the region.”

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