Charleston Leader

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, participated in a hearing titled “America’s Regional Commissions: Sharing Best Practices in Regional and Economic Development.” The hearing highlighted success stories from Regional Commissions and examined the collaboration between the Commissions, the states they serve, and the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA).

The hearing featured testimony from five Regional Commission federal co-chairs: Jennifer Clyburn Reed, Ed.D., Southeast Crescent Regional Commission; Jocelyn Fenton, Denali Commission (Interim); Juan Sanchez, Southwest Border Regional Commission; Chris Saunders, Northern Border Regional Commission; and Corey Wiggins, Ph.D., Delta Regional Authority.

Below is the opening statement of Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) as delivered.

“Thank you, Chairman Carper, and thank you all for being here today, and thanks for this hearing.

“Again, I want to welcome our witnesses, the federal co-chairs from the Delta Regional Authority, Denali Commission, Northern Border Regional Commission, Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, and the Southwest Border Regional Commission, and thank all of you for what we're going to hear.

“The strength of our Regional Commissions lies in their partnerships and coordination between the federal government and the states that are in their region.

“Often, the governor of each state that is within the geographic target of the Regional Commission serves on that Commission.

“Typically, a Regional Commission is co-chaired by a federal political appointee that is confirmed with the advice and consent of the Senate and one governor that is selected from the states covered by the Commission.

“These entities utilize federal funding to carry out state and local economic development priorities, and the Chairman has lined out a few of those for us today.

“The Regional Commissions’ intergovernmental coordination is key to the success of their economic development efforts.

“Working with the appropriate states, these entities often make investments in various areas – such as basic infrastructure and workforce training – that are critical to ensuring long-term economic growth and opportunity in their communities.

“Further, Regional Commissions must work in tandem with the EDA, the Economic Development Administration.

“Since EDA and the Regional Commissions have similar missions, they must strategically coordinate in order to avoid duplicative efforts and investments.

“We are here today to talk about best practices and success stories from some of our Regional Commissions that will help us to strike this balance and ensure our federal investment is implemented efficiently to achieve maximum benefit for the states and communities they serve.

“I look forward to hearing ways to strengthen your partnerships with your states and your coordination with EDA.

“Working with Appalachian Regional Commissions in my home state of West Virginia has shown me how beneficial these commissions can be. They positively impact communities significantly.

“Our colleague’s wife Gayle Manchin is ARC's federal co-chair. Guy Land is also present here today. Although not on today's panel because we have already authorized ARC legislation previously. Today’s focus is on giving due attention to other commissions present here today.”

“They’ve invested $63 million last year alone through federal matched funding across 66 projects just within West Virginia itself serving over three thousand households/businesses while training/educating over two thousand students/workers."

“I know each of you before us today strives towards impactful investments similarly.”

“To further these efforts back in March Chairman Carper along myself introduced bipartisan Economic Development Reauthorization Act before this Committee which was reported favorably unanimously by voice vote.”

"Title II reauthorizes several regional commissions covering fiscal years 2025-2029 expanding activity types allowing flexibility tailoring community needs."

"It modernizes administrative requirements ensuring efficient operations emphasizing regular reauthorization examination enhancing effectiveness carrying out missions successfully."

"We aim working alongside congressional colleagues enabling EDA reauthorization becoming law."

"So Mr.Chairman yielding back time now,” concluded Capito.