U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., on Monday participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of a new building at the federal Advanced Training Center in Harpers Ferry.

Capito was joined by West Virginia Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott. 

During her time as the top Republican on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Capito led efforts in the Senate to secure federal funding for Monarch Hall, which will enhance training capacity for U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other Homeland Security personnel as they prepare to meet evolving threats at our nation’s borders and beyond.

Capito secured funding for this project in Fiscal Years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. 

“Facilities like Monarch Hall are critical to ensuring that the men and women who protect our homeland receive the cutting-edge training they need. I was proud to lead the effort to secure funding for this project, and I’m grateful to Secretary Noem and Commissioner Scott for joining us today to celebrate this important milestone and see the important work happening here firsthand. West Virginia plays a vital role in our national security, and this facility is another example of how our state is contributing to the safety and security of the American people,” Senator Capito said. 

“I want you all to know that I believe she [Senator Capito] is going to go down in history as one of the most effective senators that this country has ever seen. She has been so incredibly powerful in her advocacy for things that truly do matter…For years now, she has championed bringing the dollars that are necessary here to get this hall built,” Secretary Noem said during her remarks. 

“I think it’s important to understand that we would not exist without Senator Capito’s support. Not just financially through appropriations, but the conversations behind the scenes, learning about the organization…I’m in a unique position coming up through the organization where I got to see the senator come out in the field when I was a Sector Chief and she just wanted to learn. I want to thank you for that because getting to know what’s behind the curtain is the important part,” Commissioner Scott said during his remarks. 

The ribbon cutting ceremony highlighted the federal government’s continued commitment to supporting law enforcement training initiatives.