In The News

The details of House Republicans’ debt limit increase bill were in flux on Tuesday as Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and GOP leaders worked to get enough votes in a slim majority to pass it. GOP leaders have set their sights on voting on the forthcoming legislation as early as next week, as the party tries to increase pressure on the White House to negotiate spending cuts and policy reforms as a condition of raising the debt ceiling.  A framework for the legislation... Read More

The Friends of Coal Ladies Auxiliary helped celebrate Emma Arbutus Clay’s 104th birthday. Born April 8, 1919, Clay celebrated her birthday with close family and friends. Clay has lived in Raleigh County her entire life, spending over 40 years in the public school system as a teacher and a principal. She worked at Harpers Creek Elementary, Eccles Elementary and Eccles Junior High schools. Clay was married for over 60 years. She has three children, three grandchildren, five... Read More

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said during an event at the Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday that he would be reintroducing his legislation that failed to get enough support during a vote in the Senate last year. He also said he would take a look at Republicans’ energy package, known as H.R.1, and said it was “wrong” for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to call the Republican bill “dead on arrival.” Both Manchin, who chairs the Senate... Read More

Just seven Republicans supported Manchin’s permitting bill, which sought to preserve states’ authorities over siting transmission while still allowing FERC to step in if permits aren’t issued within a year’s time. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, the top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, was one of those seven. But, she said, making FERC the backstop, especially on cost allocation, would be a problem. “I don’t think we want to federalize... Read More

WASHINGTON - A coalition of centrist Republicans and Democrats say they are getting closer to a bipartisan deal on overhauling the federal permitting process to allow faster development of infrastructure projects such as power transmission lines, natural gas pipelines and broadband networks.At an event hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Tuesday, Senators Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., Tom Carper, D-Del., and Joe Manchin, D-W.V., along with Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif. — many of whom... Read More

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WV News) — Almost $425,000 in federal funding will be used to collect and digitally preserve thousands of congressional archives at WVU. The $349,580 National Endowment for the Humanities grant for the Robert C. Byrd Center for History Education at West Virginia University was announced Tuesday by U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Capito announced a smaller National Endowment for the Humanities grant —... Read More

Charleston, W.Va. – West Virginia’s director of the State Resiliency Office, Bob Martin, delivered his agency’s first quarter report to members of the Joint Legislative Interim Committee on Flooding on Sunday, telling lawmakers he believes the economic future of the Mountain State depends on proper flood mitigation and resiliency strategies. “This is the world according to Bob,” Martin concluded. “I think flood resiliency and flood mitigation in the state... Read More

Americans can purchase 91 models of electric cars and trucks — but as of Tuesday, only 14 of them will qualify for federal tax breaks intended to persuade motorists to forsake their gas-guzzlers. That number is sure to change. But for now, new Biden administration rules first announced March 31 will sharply winnow the number of vehicles now eligible for the $7,500 tax credit, a long-awaited list that the Treasury Department published Monday morning. The new list is a big win for... Read More

CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito announced funding for a West Virginia state program. On Monday, April 17, 2023, $1,229,006 was awarded for the West Virginia State Tobacco Control Program. The program was made by the West Virginia Division of Tobacco Prevention, the leading state agency for tobacco prevention, cessation, and control. “The HHS funding announced today allows us to address tobacco use in our state and improve the health of West Virginians. This... Read More

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – A West Virginia business owner has been honored with an inaugural national award for his work in advocating for researching treatments and cures for Parkinson’s disease. George Manahan, of Charleston, was honored this month with the first-ever Hero of Advocacy Award from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. According to the Foundation, Manahan is one of their most active advocates. When Manahan was diagnosed with Parkinson’s,... Read More

An update to Federal Highway Administration guidance related to a $1.2 trillion infrastructure law is among key achievements House Republicans are touting during their first 100 days governing in the majority. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) pointed to his caucus’ push for action on FHWA’s 2021 policy memorandum, which was updated earlier this year. The document’s update is part of the committee’s record of... Read More

West Virginia University will receive $8 million, through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to develop a first-of-a-kind facility to extract and separate rare earth elements and critical minerals and materials from mining waste. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $16 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to bring critical mineral supply chains to America and reduce reliance on competitors like China. The funding will support projects in West Virginia and North... Read More

State Resiliency Officer Robert Martin reported to the Joint Legislative Committee on Flooding Sunday about his agency’s efforts to prevent flood related deaths in West Virginia. Martin talked of multiple flood mitigation projects, one of which included the Milton Flood Wall in Cabell County. He told committee members that Sens. Shelley Moore Capito, R-WV, and Joe Manchin, D-WV, are working to appropriate another $190.7 million for work on the Lower Mud River Flood Risk Management Project... Read More

On Thursday, the Mountain Valley Pipeline received a little good news to mix with recent legal hurdles: The U.S. Forest Service approved the pipeline to pass through Jefferson National Forest along the West Virginia-Virginia border from Monroe County to Giles County. The Forest Service decision impacts about 3.5 miles of the 303-mile project, which is said to be 94% complete. The 42-inch pipeline is needed, proponents say, to transfer natural gas from the rich, fertile Marcellus and Utica Shale... Read More

WASHINGTON—Republicans don’t control the Senate. But on some days, they have controlled the Senate’s agenda on issues including crime and the environment.  While Democrats run the Senate floor on account of their 51-49 majority, Republicans are using various tools to force votes on issues dear to the GOP, over the opposition of Senate Democratic leaders and President Biden. They have employed the Congressional Review Act and other provisions of federal law to target rules... Read More

Clean drinking water and responsible disposal of wastewater are two primary characteristics of a safe community. West Virginia has 596 separate water and sewer utility systems, and, according to the state Public Service Commission, “Over time, some have fallen into disrepair and struggle to provide customers with safe, adequate and affordable service.” The American Society of Civil Engineers 2021 Infrastructure Report Card gave the state a “D” grade on water. “Some... Read More

It’s fair to say that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is anticipating some feedback in its battle against greenhouse gas emissions. Following a controversial White House announcement earlier this week regarding proposed greenhouse gas emission standards on heavy-duty trucks, the EPA is planning a virtual public hearing that could last up to three days. In a notice that is scheduled to publish in the Federal Register on Monday, April 17, the EPA announced it will have a public... Read More

A federal court in North Dakota has issued a preliminary injunction against the Biden administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing its final rule redefining Waters of the United States (WOTUS). The final rule has been the source of opposition by West Virginia leaders, including Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, who, along with Virginia AG Jason Miyares, led a coalition of 24 states in a lawsuit to vacate the... Read More

For the third time, the U.S. Forest Service has given a green light for the Mountain Valley Pipeline to cross the Jefferson National Forest near the border between West Virginia and Virginia. It’s a critical link for the 300-mile pipeline, which is a priority for state leaders but is opposed by environmental groups. Its opponents have been successful in stalling the pipeline. Earlier this month, a federal appeals court voided the West Virginia Department of Environmental... Read More

CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS)– United States Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and other senators sent out a letter to the FCC calling for the rollout of Next Generation Television standard to support local broadcasting. According to Capito, the new standard will help broadcasters provide quality news and improved emergency alert systems. A bipartisan group of 28 senators signed this letter, and was led by Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Todd Young (R-Ind). The other senators that helped... Read More