Click here or the image above to watch Ranking Member Capito’s opening remarks.
WASHINGTON,
D.C. – Today, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee
held an oversight hearing
to examine programs at the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and
review programs for reauthorization.
Below is the opening statement of Ranking
Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), as prepared for delivery:
“Thank you, Mr.
Chairman, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the hearing. Assistant
Secretary Castillo, I thank you for coming, and the stakeholders on the second
panel.
“The Economic
Development Administration—or EDA—is an important partner to communities in
West Virginia and across the nation that are working to advance economic
opportunity for their citizens.
“As the lead
agency for the federal economic development agenda, the EDA provides funding
for critical infrastructure projects and other activities that support job
creation and retention in disadvantaged urban and rural areas.
“In my capacity
as the Senator for West Virginia, I have worked to foster a renewed focus by EDA
in my home state.
“It’s worked. Since
2015, West Virginia has received over $100 million in investments from EDA,
supporting thousands of jobs.
“I appreciate so
much the time that Assistant Secretary Castillo and I have spent together already,
most recently during her visit to West Virginia. We’ve already talked about another visit in the near future.
“This hearing is
timely given that EDA is in the process of considering applications for
projects to use the more than $3 billion in supplemental appropriations it
received through the American Rescue Plan Act.
“Taken together
with the $1.5 billion that was provided in the CARES Act, EDA has received well over ten times the
annual funding typically appropriated to EDA, all within one year. That’s a
challenge.
“This is on top
of the $1.2 billion total in supplemental appropriations provided to EDA for
disaster recovery in 2018 and 2019.
“This committee
will continue to exercise oversight of EDA’s use of these and other funds, and
I look forward to hearing about this during this hearing.
“Given the
significant funding provided by Congress to EDA in recent years, it is
concerning that the majority of the agency’s programs are administered under
expired authorizations.
“Congress last
authorized EDA in 2004.
“Congress has not
updated EDA’s priorities—informed by our constituents’ needs and experience
with EDA—for over a decade while EDA spends record amounts.
“Reauthorization
legislation would enable Congress to reassert direction over EDA funding
decisions.
“Modernized
legislation would also enhance our oversight of EDA and explore ways to
encourage coordination across federal economic development programs.
“Just last week, the committee
welcomed Dr. Jennifer Clyburn Reed, who has been nominated to serve as federal
co-chair of the Southeast Crescent Regional Commissions.
“We must ensure
good stewardship of government funds between EDA and the regional commissions
the EPW Committee oversees.
“EDA
reauthorization legislation would allow us to update the agency’s processes for
program implementation and project delivery.
“It should also
support further cooperation between EDA and the private sector.
“The U.S. economy
has changed a lot over the past ten years.
“We ought to make
sure EDA’s authorizing statutes reflect this reality.
“However, I must
stress that reauthorization legislation will not be an opportunity to change EDA’s
traditional missions in favor of other missions.
“That is best
left to other agencies.
“Neither will it
be an opportunity to carry out a federal industrial policy in Washington that
would pick winners and losers.
“We must maintain
EDA’s focus on those areas that truly need assistance, and continue with an
industry-agnostic approach that emphasizes locally-driven economic development
decisions.
“As the committee
considers reauthorization legislation, I look forward to hearing from Assistant
Secretary Castillo and our stakeholders about implementation of EDA’s programs
in general, and what policy and programmatic improvements this committee should
consider.
“In closing, let
me again say I appreciate all of our witnesses for being here today.
“Thank you,
Mr. Chairman, and I yield back my time.”
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