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WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers (KY-05) voted for the fiscal year 2024 Energy and Water House Appropriations Bill, providing nearly $58 billion to bolster national security, energy security and economic competitiveness. The bill passed the House on Thursday, offsetting $5.58 billion by clawing back the Democrats' wasteful spending over the last two years. Eastern Kentucky gains important funding in the bill, including Congressman Rogers' Community Project Funding request for $500,000 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study flood control options along the Kentucky River, following historic flooding in the region in 2022 and 2021.
"This bill not only provides funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study potential flood control solutions along the Kentucky River, but also directs the Corps to do so in an expeditious manner. To put it plainly, we cannot afford to drag our feet on this important cause," said Congressman Rogers, Dean of the House and a senior appropriator. "Indeed, this is a herculean effort, and I have been blown away by the responsiveness and helpfulness of the Army Corps of Engineers in responding after catastrophic flooding took 45 lives in Eastern Kentucky last year."
The bill also provides $200 million for the Appalachian Regional Commission, including $10 million for Congressman Rogers' Appalachian Broadband Initiative, as well as $16 million for infrastructure improvements in Central Appalachian and $65 million for the POWER initiative.
"The Appalachian Regional Commission has helped countless communities in Kentucky's Appalachian region revitalize in the wake of the downturn of the coal industry, by supporting workforce development, combatting the region's opioid crisis, helping repair our aging infrastructure, expanding rural broadband, and much more. This funding is a godsend for our rural communities, and after last year's flooding, it's needed now more than ever," said Congressman Rogers.
Among other specific funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the bill protects Congressman Rogers' annual requested prohibition preventing the Army Corps from carrying out a water-supply reallocation study for Lake Cumberland to protect local communities from being charged fees for accessing the lake for municipal water supply. It also includes nearly $3 million for the Army Corps to continue operations at Fishtrap Lake in Pike County.
In addition to funding critical programs across the country, the federal bill secures $132.8 million for rural water projects, $344 million for state and community energy programs, like weatherization assistance, and investments in important energy security development.
The bill now moves on to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
For more information about Congressman Rogers' work in Washington and at home in Kentucky, visit halrogers.house.gov and follow him on social media.