WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (TNSPol) -- Appalachian Voices issued the following news release: Yesterday, President Joe Biden released a statement making clear that the U.S. Senate would head home for the holidays without passing the Build Back Better bill, which includes crucial investments for Appalachian communities. Among those investments left on the table is the extension of the Black Lung Excise tax at current rates. This tax is the only source of revenue for the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R46991) on Dec. 17, 2021, entitled "Economic Development Administration: An Overview of Programs and Appropriations (FY2011-FY2021)" by economic development policy analyst Julie M. Lawhorn: * * * SUMMARY The Economic Development Administration (EDA), a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), is the only federal agency with economic development as its sole mission. The agency was established pur  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R46991) on Dec. 17, 2021, entitled "Economic Development Administration: An Overview of Programs and Appropriations (FY2011-FY2021)": * * * (Continued from Part 1 of 3) EDA Grant Programs EDA grant programs, which are generally flexible, locally-based and regionally-oriented, are designed to increase the capacity for state and local economic development./57 According to EDA, between FY2012 and FY2019,   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R46991) on Dec. 17, 2021, entitled "Economic Development Administration: An Overview of Programs and Appropriations (FY2011-FY2021)": * * * (Continued from Part 2 of 3) FY2022 Funding Request The Biden Administration proposed increased annual appropriations for EDA. The EDA's FY2022 congressional budget request included $433 million for the EDA, an amount that is almost 25% above the FY2021 enacted lev  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following white paper (No. IF11396) on Dec. 17, 2021, entitled "Starting a Federal Regional Commission or Authority" by economic development policy analyst Julie M. Lawhorn: * * * Starting a Federal Regional Commission or Authority The federal regional commissions and authorities are seven congressionally-chartered, federal-state partnerships that were developed to address economic distress in targeted geographic regions. Wit  more

LANSING, Michigan, Dec. 18 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release: As we head into Christmas week, here's what's going on in the Republican race for governor. James Craig's "Magical" Mystery Plan Look, we all loved The Magic School Bus growing up, but we're worried James Craig is taking it a bit too seriously. He kicked off the week by hawking his DeVos style voucher scheme engineered to rip public education down to the studs. Craig even said he was on board with c  more