U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-WV, Co-Chair of the Congressional Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Caucus, was instrumental Wednesday in helping to defeat an amendment to the Energy and Water Appropriations bill that would have zeroed out funding for the Commission.

"The Neugebauer amendment would have, in one fell swoop, cut off four decades of extraordinary progress made by the Appalachian Regional Commission," Rahall said. "Since 1965, the ARC has contributed significantly to improving the quality of life of West Virginians by working closely with its federal, state, local, and private-sector partners."

The ARC has proven itself a good steward of the funding it receives. For example, in FY 2006, across all investment areas, each dollar of ARC funding was matched by $3.14 in non-ARC public project funding, and each ARC dollar invested leveraged $11.55 in private investment in ARC projects over time.

"We have, in the ARC, something that is working to improve the lives of our citizens, and we need to keep it going," Rahall said.

Congressman Rahall has a strong record of going to bat for full funding of the ARC, fighting budget cuts time and time again under the Bush Administration. Recently, Rahall, second-ranking Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, supported legislation to reauthorize the program through 2011. The measure, which has won the approval of the Committee, would provide $463 million to the organization, which serves 410 counties, including all of West Virginia and parts of 12 other states.

"For more than a century, Appalachia's natural resources have fueled America's economic engine. Our people's labor has provided this Nation with unparalleled prosperity. It is fitting and proper that part of the Nation's wealth flow back to help Appalachia advance," Rahall said. "These funds will build upon more than four decades of vital work by the Appalachian Region Commission."

In recent years, Rahall has partnered with the ARC on a number of projects to benefit West Virginia, providing economic opportunities, developing infrastructure, and creating new jobs.

"I applaud the efforts of Federal Co-Chair Anne Pope who, as a native daughter of Appalachia, executes so well the mission of ARC in each of Appalachia's communities and thank my colleagues for opposing this amendment, which would have hindered this agency's ability to continue its important work."