Hello Friend,

The countdown is underway for the 2017 SOAR Summit! Join Gov. Matt Bevin and me, along with more than 1,000 people across southern and eastern Kentucky, on Friday, August 4th at the East Kentucky Expo Center in Pikeville for an action-packed day. The Appalachian Regional Commission will be offering mini-grants for eligible projects to help continue your successful work to improve the future of our region.   To learn more and register for the SOAR Summit, visit soar-ky.org. 

As Chairman Emeritus of the House Appropriations Committee, I'm incredibly proud of the Committee's tireless bipartisan work to approve all twelve of the federal government's funding bills for fiscal year 2018. Throughout the process, I have advocated for a number of important programs that impact southern and eastern Kentucky communities and families, including: 

• Protection of the Appalachian Regional Commission;

• Economic development support in the coalfields;

• Combatting the nation's drug abuse epidemic;

• Support for rural housing and child nutrition;

• Construction of a federal prison in Letcher County; and

• Boosting our military defense and approving the largest pay raise for troops this decade. 

Last week, I joined my colleagues on the Congressional Coal Caucus in sending a letter to U.S. Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta questioning why there remains such a large contingent of mine inspectors within the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), despite the large number of mine closures and lay-offs in the coal industry over the last five years. The number of MSHA coal inspectors substantially exceeds the number necessary to conduct required inspections.  Learn about additional measures I've voted for to rein in MSHA >>>

Earlier this summer, the RECLAIM Act of 2017 passed its first hurdle, being approved by the House Natural Resources Committee. I have championed the bipartisan RECLAIM Act as a way to boost coal country by fast-tracking the release of $1 billion in available funding from the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation (AML) Fund to reclaim former coal mining land and spur economic development. RECLAIM now heads to the full House for consideration.  Learn more about the RECLAIM Act >>>

When working in Washington, DC, I always enjoy visits from Kentucky friends. Last week, UK Basketball Coach John Calipari represented the Big Blue Nation on Capitol Hill and spent some time with my friend, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and me.  

As students head back to school next month, I want to invite all of our K-12 students to participate in the Congressional App Challenge July 26 - November 1, 2017. One winning team will be selected for the best digital app from each congressional district. To register and learn more about how to become southern and eastern Kentucky's winner, visit http://congressionalappchallenge.us. 

If you would like to receive more frequent updates on what's happening in Washington, please send me an  email, join my  Facebook page,  follow me on Twitter, or  join me on Instagram. Thank you to everyone who has dropped by to share your opinion -- let's keep the dialogue going!

Sincerely,

Hal