The past year-and-a-half was a time of important accomplishments that will help improve the lives of West Virginians.

When Congress passed tax reform legislation at the end of last year, we promised it would help workers and families keep more of their hard-earned money. We promised it would help our businesses compete, reinvest in our economy and pass benefits down to their employees. We promised it would create new opportunities for growth in our communities. Now, those promises are being fulfilled.

As I have traveled across the state in recent months, I’ve seen small businesses able to expand and hire more employees. I’ve heard stories about families who are better able to invest in their children’s education. I’ve even seen how extra money in their paychecks have helped some individuals donate more to local charities and community priorities.

But it’s important that we continue working together to find new solutions that will help move our state forward. That’s why I recently launched a new initiative called “Share Your Stories.”

I created this initiative because you know better than anyone else how what we are doing in Washington are benefiting you and your neighbors. I want to hear what’s working and what’s not. I want to hear about the positive changes you are seeing in your communities, as well as the changes you still want to see.

Since launching “Share Your Stories,” I’ve already heard from quite a few West Virginians. Take Herbert for an example. Herbert is a local retired public school teacher who wrote to me expressing his excitement about the recently passed tax reform legislation. He explained how he and his wife, his daughter, and other retirees throughout the state are receiving more money in their paychecks and shared that many individuals who were previously jobless have now found new jobs thanks to tax reform. This is great news, and I am so glad to hear that Herbert’s friends and family are already seeing the benefits of pro-growth reforms. Better yet, I am confident that this is just the beginning.

I look forward to hearing more of these stories. And more importantly, I look forward to taking your stories and your experiences back to Washington and delivering even more reforms that will positively impacts your lives.

Share your stories with me by visiting my “Share Your Stories” webpage: www.capito.senate.gov/ShareYourStories or connect with me on social media by following me on Twitter (@SenCapito), Facebook (@SenShelley) or Instagram (@SenCapito).