For Immediate Release

May 15, 2008

Contact:        Mark Bergman

                202-225-5206 (phone)

Congressman Paul Hodes Secures Passage of Northern Border Regional Commission

Commission to bring significant new federal resources to help North Country communities

Washington, DC--- Following US Senate passage earlier today of the Farm Bill and US House of Representatives passage of the legislation yesterday, both by large, bipartisan margins, the legislation now goes to President Bush for signature of Congressman Paul Hodes’ landmark legislation to create the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) — legislation which he managed to insert in the larger Farm Bill.

As authorized through the Farm Bill, the NBRC would invest $30 million per year in federal resources for economic development and job creation in the most economically distressed areas of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. It will be able to provide federal funding to bring improvement in roads, rail, broadband, job training, energy generation, and health care in Grafton, Coos, Sullivan, and Carroll counties in New Hampshire.

This is the first piece of legislation that Congressman Hodes introduced since taking office in 2007 and a major legislative accomplishment in just his first term in office.

Congressman Paul Hodes spoke on the floor yesterday on the legislation. “The Commission will help bring investment, leadership, and focus to the North Country’s economic development efforts,” Congressman Paul Hodes said.

“The people of the North Country need a new start and more resources to re-build their communities for a new economy. There are already efforts underway to help build industries throughout the region and this Northern Border Regional Commission, coupled with serious efforts on the state level led by Governor Lynch, will help revitalize this region and rebuild communities looking for help. I urge President Bush to sign this legislation to help working families in economically distressed communities throughout Northern New Hampshire” Congressman Hodes concluded.

The 36 counties that would become part of this commission have poverty levels above the national average, median household income that is more than $6500 below the national average, persistent unemployment fed by constant layoffs in traditional manufacturing industries, and a significant out-migration and loss of younger workers.

A detailed fact sheet on the legislation is included below.

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Northern Border Regional Commission

The Need

• In the belt of counties along the northern border from Maine through New York, 12.5% of the population lives in poverty, median household income is more than $6,500 below the national average, unemployment through layoffs in traditional manufacturing industries is persistent, and the population has only grown by 0.6% between 1990 and 2000, while the U.S. population overall rose by 13.2%, showing significant out-migration and loss of young people. These statistics indicate significant economic distress, and equal or greater need than in other existing or proposed regional commission areas.
• The region shares many common economic challenges stemming from relative geographic isolation, aging infrastructure, loss of population, and a loss of natural resource-based industry that has historically been an economic engine.  However, the region also has a common set of assets, as well as historical and geographic ties. 

Purpose

• The Northern Border Regional Commission would invest in projects that benefit the economy of the region, especially in economically distressed communities.  It would create and implement regional economic development plans to reduce poverty, address changing land use, and improve the quality of life. It would focus on infrastructure, telecommunications, health care, transportation, and energy.
• It would add to, but not duplicate, existing institutions and programs such as the Economic Development Administration.  No other agency is focused on the region and its specific needs, assets, and challenges: EDA focuses on local projects, while state agencies do not reach across state borders.  The commission would be able to provide regional planning and investment that focuses on common needs for the whole region.

Administration
The commission is comprised of the four governors or their designees of the four state region, plus a federal Co-Chair.  No project could be undertaken that is not in a state plan, and states maintain control over deciding what can be undertaken within their borders.  The affirmative vote of the Co-Chair plus a majority of the governors is needed for any decision — this ensures federal oversight and regional consensus.  At the same time, project development comes from local economic development districts, so local planning and on-the-ground experts are involved in shaping the focus of the commission’s efforts.

Authorization of Appropriations
The commission is authorized at $30 million for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.

Northern Border Regional Commission Counties

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  • Maine – the counties of Androscoggin, Aroostook, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, Waldo, and Washington
  • New Hampshire – the counties of Carroll, Coos, Grafton, and Sullivan
  • Vermont – the counties of Caledonia, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, and Orleans
  • New York – the counties of Cayuga, Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Oswego, Seneca, and St. Lawrence.