In The News

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., is among five senators banding together to push for better internet access in underserved parts of the country. The Senate Broadband Caucus was scheduled to host its first meeting at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, according to a news release from Capito's office. The caucus will focus on improving internet access for Americans, particularly in rural areas. Other members of the caucus include Sens. Angus King, I-Maine; Amy Klbuchar, D-Minn.; Heidi... Read More

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito joined with several Senate colleagues Tuesday to form the Senate Broadband Caucus, a group that hopes to expand broadband internet access to rural areas across the country. The group, started by five senators -- two Republicans, two Democrats and an independent -- does not have a specific legislative agenda, but will work to help coordinate federal efforts to expand broadband and come up with new ideas to do so. West Virginia ranks 48th in the nation in broadband... Read More

Five of the Senate's most prominent voices on rural issues are joining forces for a new caucus dedicated to bringing high-speed internet access to the country's underserved regions - and overcoming logjams that have long hindered progress on that front. Roughly 40 percent of Americans in rural areas still lack speedy web connections, according to the FCC, and the new Senate Broadband Caucus unveiled on Tuesday promises to focus more attention on remedying that "system of haves and have nots,"... Read More

MARTINSBURG – Local officials claim success with High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program which launched in June for Berkeley and Jefferson counties.Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said the program is important to combat heroin because "every person in the panhandle probably has experiences or knowledge of a personal event or person who's been lost to this.""I'm worried it's taking away a generation of West Virginians," Capito said. "We're seeing a lot of overdoses and deaths. We... Read More

A GOP senator is racing against the clock to pass a bill that would push back compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency's strict smog rules, though it's not clear the Senate will move to pass it in an election year. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., chairwoman of the environment committee's clean air panel, is working to find time to markup the bill before the August recess, because she suspects nothing will get done in the fall. "My bill already passed the House. I think we will... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito announced $5.7 million in U.S. Dept. of Transportation funding for road work necessary in the wake of last week’s floods. The money was made available through the DOT’s Quick Release program to clear federal highways and perform other emergency work. “Last week’s thunderstorms devastated parts of central and southeastern West Virginia, destroying and severely damaging many roads, bridges and... Read More

The United Mine Workers union is praising an agreement in the U.S. Senate that may pave the way for action on legislation aimed at rescuing troubled union pension and retiree health-care plans that cover tens of thousands of retired miners and family members. UMW President Cecil Roberts said that he was encouraged by the agreement — secured with work by Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va. — but also called on Congress to move forward quickly with a vote on... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., along with U.S. Reps. David McKinley, Alex Mooney and Evan Jenkins, sent a letter to President Barack Obama to express their full support for Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's new request to expand the major disaster declaration to include Clay, Fayette, Monroe, Pocahontas, Roane, Summers and Webster counties. In the letter, the delegation thanked the Obama Administration and FEMA for their quick response, and... Read More

(Bloomberg) -- Coal-state senators led by West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin plan to use tomorrow’s cloture vote on Puerto Rico debt restructuring legislation to try to force action on rescuing unionized miners’ financially troubled pension and health-care funds. That effort -- supported by Republicans Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Rob Portman of Ohio -- complicates the leadership’s strategy to get the House-passed version of the Puerto Rico bill quickly to the... Read More

The Senate environment committee on Wednesday took its first steps toward approving a two-pronged attack against the Obama administration's "overly complicated and duplicative" ozone rules for smog. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., convened a hearing as chairwoman of the Environment and Public Works Committee's clean air subcommittee to consider legislation to counter the Environmental Protection Agency's overly restrictive requirements. The EPA's new smog rules went into effect last year,... Read More

In this week’s Take Five, West Virginia Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito  talks about softball, running before work, and helping boost young women’s confidence. Q : What do you like about participating in the Congressional Women’s Softball Game? A : It’s a really great way to get to know the women in the House and the Senate. Since I started with it when I was in the House, it was a good way to get back and see my buddies from the House.... Read More

U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito announced Tuesday that state non-profits will receive $5.8 million for AmeriCorps funding. Manchin, D-W.Va., said state residents have a long tradition of “neighbor helping neighbor.” “The value of national service can never be overstated,” Manchin said. “It is an important part of our identity as West Virginians and Americans.”Capito characterized the state as “one big small town” where people... Read More

Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin announced funding heading to West Virginia for AmeriCorps programs, including Energy Express. The Corporation for National and Community Service is giving $5.8 million dollars to the state to help fund volunteering and service programs. The money for Energy Express will help cover the costs of 80 teen volunteers who will serve as Summer Opportunity AmeriCorps members. They will help head and support other teen volunteers and help carry out the summer... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – (WTAP) Strengthening the military. The goal reflected in a bill supported by both of West Virginia's U.S. Senators, which has now passed the Senate. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin both support the National Defense Authorization Act, which they say provides the military with resources to battle terrorists.Captio says the measure also sends a message to the Obama Administration."We've sort have been all over the board: we're going to Syria, no... Read More

It's really a shame that agreement by Republicans and Democrats in Congress on a piece of legislation is worthy of a special mention. The divisiveness in the nation's capital has made such occasions too few and far between. But last week, bipartisanship actually reigned. More importantly, the bill that passed muster should go a long way toward making the American public safer, if government carries out the legislation's mandate.The U.S. Senate on Tuesday added its stamp of approval to the Frank... Read More

WHEELING — U.S. Sen. Shelley Capito and Rep. David McKinley welcomed female high school seniors from across West Virginia to Wheeling Sunday night as Rhododendron Girls State kicked off at Wheeling Jesuit University. A total of 340 young women are attending Girls State, which serves as a "political boot camp" for young women selected to represent their schools based on their leadership ability. During the next three days, they will be schooled in the workings of government and how to run... Read More

In an all-too-rare example of Congress working as it should, the U.S. Senate on Thursday approved House-backed legislation to rewrite the nation’s chemical safety laws. All five members of West Virginia’s congressional delegation supported the bill. The legislation marks the first significant changes to the Toxic Substances Control Act in nearly 40 years. In a statement, Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said the bill “will protect our families and provide regulatory... Read More

WASHINGTON D.C – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito announced yesterday funding for local schools. A total of nearly 3 million dollars from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources Administration for Children and Families for head start programs in Kanawha County.  "In West Virginia, our commitments reflect our values, and we value our children above all else," Senator Manchin said. "This funding will ensure the Kanawha County Board of Education can continue... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Obama is expected to sign a rare piece of legislation, a bill which received strong bi-partisan support on Capitol Hill.  The Frank Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act enjoyed Republican and Democrat backing in both the U.S. Senate and House.   The measure aims to ensure safety of chemicals in America by upgrading an outdated chemical registry program. “We must ensure that the chemicals we encounter in our everyday... Read More

No one wants to talk about dying. However, it’s a part of life and something every family must contend with eventually. Sometimes it is difficult for families and care givers to address or even discuss end-of-life care to ensure their loved ones receive quality care in their final days. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito joined with others last week to introduce bipartisan legislation to improve end-of-life care for Americans. The Compassionate Care Act aims to provide federal support to educate... Read More