On Thursday, Capito was in Parkersburg and in Ripley where she participated in a program about the grants and loans from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Agriculture for a water and wastewater project. The USDA has approved a loan of $3.8 million and the Corps of Engineers earlier this year approved a loan of $1 million.
The Hyperloop certification center between Tucker and Grant counties involves a high-speed passenger and cargo transportation system capable of speeds of more than 600 mph inside of a tube. Construction will start next year and it could be operational in 2025.
While broadband will be vital for the project, the pandemic has underscored its necessity, too, in the areas of education, remote working and telehealth, Capito said.
“Absolutely critical,” she said.
Much of rural West Virginia is underserved or not served by broadband. An issue is because of the few number of residents as companies won’t see a return on an investment to expand, she said.
That will make government participation vital to the expansion of broadband, Capito said.
In other issues, Capito expects the Senate to confirm the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, although it’s unlikely any Democrats will vote for the confirmation, she said. Capito said she has met with Barrett and believes she will separate her personal beliefs from decisions.
“She knows the law,” Capito said.
The Senate will begin work on another pandemic stimulus package until the Barrett confirmation goes before the full Senate, Capito said.
Acknowledging how politically charged the stimulus is, hopefully lawmakers will come under pressure and soon realize how much more dire things will become if there is no aid to help businesses and people through the pandemic, Capito said.
Jess Mancini can be contacted at jmancini@newsandsentinel.com.
