Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), along with Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21), introduced a bill to extend the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) for ten years while making critical reforms to encourage economic development, enhance access to rural health care, and streamline bureaucratic processes within the NBRC. This legislation will strengthen both federal and state efforts to spur job creation and economic development across New Hampshire.

“The Northern Border Regional Commission plays a critical role in driving economic growth and development in many of our rural communities – I’m proud to fight for it in Congress,” said Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02). “By reauthorizing the NBRC and expanding its scope to include rural health care, we can invest in the future success of our state and ensure everyone has the support they need to thrive. I look forward to working with my colleagues across the aisle to get this done.”

“I am proud to be leading this critical legislation to increase economic development in my district across Upstate New York and the North Country. The hardworking families of NY-21 deserve continued economic and community innovation that leads to success and new opportunities for growth. The NBRC funds these important projects that grow our local economy and deliver economic opportunity to families,” stated Congresswoman Stefanik.

“The central goal of the Commission is to contribute to the economic well-being of the residents and rural communities in New Hampshire, New York, and Northern New England. Over the last decade an increasing number of communities across the region have looked to the Commission for resources, knowledge and assistance. This bi-partisan reauthorization would make important updates and improvements to the Commission that would allow the NBRC to use its growing set of tools to support communities within the region for years to come,” said Northern Border Regional Commission Federal Co-Chair Chris Saunders.

Kuster and Stefanik were joined by Representatives Tenney (R-NY), Pingree (D-ME), Golden (D-ME), Pappas (D-NH), Balint (D-VT), and Molinaro (R-NY).

The NBRC Reauthorization Act of 2023 would:

• Reauthorize the NBRC for 10 years at $40 million per year for the first five years and increase the authorization to $45 million for the following five years.
• Provide the NBRC with additional flexibility to work on rural health care and rural housing projects that will address access to care, housing, and child care needs.
• Streamline a number of NBRC administrative requirements to allow the NBRC to focus more time on their work and less time on outdated, bureaucratic regulations.

Established in 2008, the NBRC is a federal-state partnership for economic and community development in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and New York. Rural regions in these states have benefitted from NBRC investments that have helped to develop public infrastructure, enhance economic development, and assist in job training activities in communities that have historically struggled to attract public and private investment. With the NBRC’s record of successful investments across the region, it is more important than ever for Congress to renew its commitment to the economic revitalization of the Northern Border states.

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