President’s Budget Proposal Includes Boons for Appalachia
By Brian Sewell
Central Appalachian communities weathering coal’s long decline would see a boost in funding under the White House budget released in February.
The Obama administration’s 2016 budget calls for an additional $200 million per year over the next five years to restore dangerous, unreclaimed mines, mostly in the Appalachian region.
The budget proposal also includes $20 million to provide employment services and job training specifically to help laid-off coal miners and power plant employees transition to jobs in other fields. The Appalachian Regional Commission would see its $70 million budget grow by roughly one-third, with $25 million in new funding directed to communities “most impacted by coal economic transition” to support a range of economic development initiatives.
The president’s proposed budget may never become law, but legislators are likely to debate the measures as Congress crafts its own budget proposals.
Related Articles
Latest News
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *