Shelley Moore Capito said Congress is pushing forward on border security funding while also working to preserve mine safety staffing and biomedical research investments during a series of federal appropriations hearings this week.

During her weekly press conference Thursday, Capito discussed negotiations surrounding funding for the Department of Homeland Security, Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She criticized Democrats for opposing portions of the funding package and said Republicans are continuing to push for its approval.

In response to a question regarding a proposed “anti-weaponization fund” reportedly discussed among Senate Republicans, Capito said she still has concerns and unanswered questions about the proposal.

“I do have questions. I don’t know what an anti-weaponization fund is,” she said, adding lawmakers discussed the issue with Acting Attorney General Blanche during a meeting earlier in the day.

Capito said senators raised questions about how the fund would operate, who could access it and whether similar programs have existed previously. She added it may be difficult for the proposal to pass as part of a reconciliation bill.

When asked about reports of a possible $1 billion package tied to White House modernization efforts and security upgrades, Capito said she believes some figures being discussed may be inaccurate.

She said she would support funding related to Secret Service security needs and technology upgrades, but noted President Donald Trump has said the proposed ballroom project itself would be privately funded.

“I think that is the direction that we think it should go,” Capito said.

“So, I’m not even sure if there will be any ask in this reconciliation budget at all for this project. Those decisions again are being made right now.”

Capito said this week included a series of appropriations hearings reviewing current federal budgets and proposals included in Trump’s budget request for next year.

She said one focus during a hearing with the acting secretary of labor was mine safety and staffing at the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

“We know we’ve lost two miners this year to mining accidents, too many, and we want to make our mines as safe and fully inspected as possible,” Capito said, adding she was assured MSHA would continue operating with a full workforce.

Capito also highlighted apprenticeship programs, saying the administration hopes to expand participation nationwide to 1 million apprentices in an effort to strengthen the future workforce.

During a National Institutes of Health hearing, Capito — who chairs the related appropriations subcommittee — said she advocated for continued investment in biomedical research and rural health care delivery, including projects underway at West Virginia University and the university’s Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute.

“I want to make sure the funding is robust, particularly for the research going on, in particular at WVU at RNI, and also at the cures for our cancer centers that we have,” she said.

Capito also referenced a hearing with the secretary of the Army, where she promoted innovations and initiatives coming out of West Virginia.

She emphasized that while the president proposes a federal budget, Congress ultimately controls appropriations.

“The president budget is just his idea, and that Congress actually appropriates,” Capito said. “Sometimes our ideas are the same, but sometimes very much differ.”