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 citizens across the state know better than anyone else how what we are doing in Washington is benefiting them and their 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. I recently had the chance to join President Trump for a roundtable discussion in West Virginia where I shared some of these stories and heard more experiences West Virginians have had thanks to the Trump administration’s agenda.

Take Tony Hodge, a rural mail carrier, and his wife Jessica for example. Tony and Jessica live in Hurricane, West Virginia, with their two sons. Because of tax reform, Tony and Jessica were able to make home improvements and give back to their community.

Specifically, they were able to take the extra money in their paychecks and give back to their church, which has a faith-based initiative that has been a very successful resource in fighting the opioid epidemic.

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 impact 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).

And if you have limited internet access, contact one of my offices by mail or phone:

Washington, DC, 172 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510, Phone: 202-224-6472

Charleston, WV, 500 Virginia Street East, Suite 950, Charleston, WV 25301, Phone: 304-347-5372