Two federal pieces of legislation that could impact West Virginia have passed out of committee and now head to the U.S. Senate floor for a vote.
One of the bills, the Opioid Addiction Recovery Fraud Prevention Act, aims to hold accountable fraudulent substance abuse treatment programs and recovery centers by empowering the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general to bring enforcement actions to combat these scams.
“I’ve worked hard with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to develop new solutions like these that will connect our communities and help those struggling with addiction,” said U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.
The second bill, the Rural Reasonable and the Comparable Wireless Access Act, directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a national standard for determining whether mobile and broadband services in rural areas are “reasonably comparable” to service provided in urban areas. The bill will help ensure that there is equitable wireless and broadband service in rural and urban areas, which has long been undefined.
“Tackling the opioid epidemic and bridging the digital divide have always been two of my top priorities, and today’s votes are positive steps in accomplishing these goals,” Capito said. “Addressing these issues head on will help West Virginians get their lives back on track and ensure that our state is not left behind.”
