; (2) according to author Ronald D. Eller in 2014, [the Commission] policies have concentrated resources in a select few growth centers in the [Appalachian] region, expanding services to the poor and growing the mountain middle class, but doing little to alter conditions in the most rural distressed counties or to address systemic political or economic inequalities throughout Appalachia ; (3) until 1995, the Commission allocated up to 20 percent of its area development grants for use in distressed counties; (4) following instructions given to the Commission by the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives in 1995, this allocation was increased by the Commission to 30 percent; (5) section 7.5(c) of the Code of the Commission (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act) reflects this 1995 policy change and states that the Commission will allocate up to 30 percent of Commission area development funds for use in distressed counties , even though, according to the Commission's public representations, economic conditions in distressed areas of the Appalachian region have not greatly improved since the 1960s; (6) given the persistent levels of poverty in the distressed counties in the Appalachian region, more area development funding and emphasis should be devoted to those counties; and (7) therefore, the allocation described in paragraph (3) should be increased to 60 percent. (e) Grant expenditures Congress finds that— (1) section 14524(d) of title 40, United States Code, provides that not less than 50 percent of the amount of grant expenditures the Commission approves shall support activities or projects that benefit severely and persistently distressed counties and areas ; (2) given the persistent levels of poverty in the distressed counties in the Appalachian region, more grant expenditures and emphasis should be devoted to those counties