WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis reports Congress passed and sent the Appalachian Regional Development Act Amendments, a five-year reauthorization for the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), to the President to be signed into law.

Lawrence and Lewis counties are in the bill that President Bush is expected to sign.

"The expansion and reauthorization of the Appalachian Regional Commission is a victory for rural counties in my district and the Appalachian area of Tennessee. This reauthorization provides over $500 million in funds for critical infrastructure projects and over $60 million in biofuels and other energy initiatives, and ensures that the ARC will continue to promote economic development in rural counties for years to come," said Congressman Davis.

The five-year $510 million reauthorization will allow ARC to continue carrying out programs designed to promote economic parity with urban areas through investments in local infrastructure. The legislation targets $65 million specifically for new energy development initiatives such as the production and consumption of biomass.

Since its establishment in 1965, ARC has greatly enhanced the standard of living for millions by promoting economic development in financially underserved areas of Appalachia. They have helped fund education and workforce training programs, highway construction, water and sewer system construction, small business start-ups and expansions, and development of healthcare resources.

The Commission is a unique partnership composed of the Governors of the 13 Appalachian states and a presidential appointee representing the federal government.

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a United States federal-state partnership that works with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life. The Commission is a partnership of 406 counties and the governors of West Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, and a presidential appointee representing the federal government. Grassroots participation is provided through local development districts, which are multi-county organizations with boards made up of elected officials, businesspeople, and other local leaders. The mission of ARC is to be a strategic partner and advocate for sustainable community and economic development in Appalachia. The ARC is a planning, research, advocacy and funding organization; it does not have any governing powers within the region.