This week, the House Appropriations Committee approved a fiscal year (FY) 2018 Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies spending bill.  The bill provides $130 million for the Appalachian Regional Commission (a $22 million decrease from the FY2017 level).  Within this amount, $50 million is directed to the POWER+ Plan and $10 million is provided to continue the program of high-speed broadband deployment in distressed counties within the Central Appalachian region most negatively impacted by the downturn in the coal industry.  The bill provides $15 million for the Delta Regional Authority (a $10 million decrease from the FY2017 level); $11 million for the Denali Commission (a $4 million decrease from the FY2017 level); $5 million for the Northern Border Regional Commission (a $5 million decrease from the FY2017 level); and level funding of $250,000 for the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission.  President Trump’s FY2018 budget request recommended the elimination of all federal-state regional commissions.  The House bill includes language specifying that no funding for ceasing operations is included for any of the federal-state regional commissions.