In The News

WASHINGTON - A new ozone rule released by the Environmental Protection Agency to improve health and well-being will lead to higher energy costs, local congressional representatives said. The rule amends the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ground-level ozone from 75 parts per billion to 70 parts per billion. Generally a problem in the spring and summer months, pollution such as that from automobiles, power and industrial plants react with sunlight and creates ozone at the ground level,... Read More

MARTINSBURG - Heroin - from the growing number of users and overdoses, to a recent increase in traffickers, coupled with too few addiction treatment options- is having an devastating impact in Berkeley County. In fact, the magnitude of the county's overdose problem is so severe - based on comparing the same population figures- that it leads metropolitan areas in Maryland, including Baltimore City. That's just one of the conclusions of a federal report - "Heroin Treatment Needs Assessment for... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) Thursday announced a total of $620,005 in funding from the U.S. Department of Justice to support continued efforts to combat drug abuse in West Virginia. The City of Huntington will receive $220,005 in funding to support the enhancement of drug court services. Specifically, the grant award will help establish new capabilities in underserved communities, enhance training programs for drug court... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito and 3rd district Congressman Evan Jenkins both criticized the federal EPA’s announcement of tightened ozone standards on Thursday. The standard was lowered from 75 parts-per-billion to 70 ppb. “The new ozone standard announced today will jeopardize our ability to create new manufacturing jobs at a time when West Virginia’s growing natural gas reserves should mean more factories and plants are coming online,”... Read More

Good news for some college graduates who may have student loans. Some U.S. Senators including Shelley Moore Capito announced a new act that helps fight student loan debt. We talked to some of you who are facing student debt to see if you think this new act will help. The new "Student Relief Act of 2015" will help people refinance their federal loans into the private market and take advantage of lower interest rates, but it was a mixed reaction when we talked to... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R - W.Va.) and Kelly Ayotte (R - N.H.)  introduced the Student Loan Relief Act of 2015. It would allow borrowers to refinance their federal student loans into the private market and take advantage of lower rates. Seventy percent of West Virginians graduated with student loan debt, averaging over $27,000 each. New Hampshire leads the nation in average student loan debt at nearly $32,800 per student.Capito said she... Read More

WASHINGON, D.C. - Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., traded proverbial punches with Janet McCabe, acting assistant administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Air and Radiation, during a hearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Tuesday concerning the economic implications of President Barack Obama's air agenda. The current federal limit on smog-forming pollution linked to asthma and respiratory illness "is not adequate to protect the public health,"... Read More

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito announced Wednesday $100,000 in funding for WVU to research new ideas and technologies that aim to improve the safety of the nation’s energy transportation pipelines. The funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s Competitive Academic Agreement Program. “Our research and development teams at West... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — States like West Virginia have a steep hill to climb to meet the requirements of the U.S. EPA clean power plan. During a hearing on Capitol Hill Tuesday, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito quizzed the EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation Janet McCabe about some of the details included in the plan. “I’m sure you’re aware many governors are simply considering not submitting a state plan for compliance, would that trigger a federal... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Earlier this summer, a team of 16 West Virginia University engineering students and one robot extraordinaire traveled to Worcester Polytechnic Institute for the fourth annual Sample Return Robot Challenge as part of NASA’s Centennial Challenges. The students — and their esteemed robot, Cataglyphis — came home to West Virginia with the first level two victory in the competition’s four-year history and a $100,000 check for their historic performance... Read More

GREENBRIER COUNTY (WVVA) – VA Secretary Robert McDonald arrived in Lewisburg to discuss the future of a Greenbrier County outpatient clinic on Friday. The secretary was joined by U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D), Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R), and Rep. Evan Jenkins (R), answering tough questions on everything from prescription pill problems to the Maxwellton facility. "We're on track to find a long-term location and as we talk about it we need to be more judicious in picking that... Read More

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) blasted President Obama this week, saying he had an opportunity to use leverage created by international sanctions to take apart Iran’s nuclear systems, but instead signed on to a nuclear agreement that falls drastically short. “(Obama) had an opportunity to show leadership and restore our standing in the world,” Capito said during the Weekly Republican Address. “Yet, instead this is a deal that fails to meet even the... Read More

MAXWELTON — More than 200 veterans, dignitaries and other interested people gathered Friday to hear what the U.S. Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs had to say about the future of the local Community Based Outpatient Clinic that was removed from its leased quarters five months ago. But the big announcement came not from Secretary Robert McDonald, but from Beckley VA Medical Center director Karin L. McGraw, who told the crowd that a temporary clinic will be sited in Lewisburg,... Read More

HUNTINGTON — Before cold and flu season comes knocking, take a few minutes to clean out your medicine cabinets this weekend and dispose of any old, unused and unwanted prescription drugs on Saturday, National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The Drug Enforcement Administration will collect unwanted or expired prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at various locations across the state and country. The collected pills will be incinerated. The take-back is completely anonymous,... Read More

Sanctions relief for Iran will be here for the long term, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) lamented Saturday, predicting it would be “next to impossible” to snap penalties back in place if the country reneges on the nuclear agreement. The West Virginia freshman criticized the “partisan minority” who successfully blocked the Senate from disapproving of the deal struck between the Obama administration, Iran and five other countries. “Unfortunately, a partisan... Read More

The Iran nuclear agreement has a "litany of flaws" that should invoke serious concerns, according to the Republican weekly address. West Virginia Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito said that Congress has carefully examined the deal and she was dismayed that a small minority in the Senate prevented a bipartisan majority from rejecting it. "This is a deal that fails to meet even the administration's own objectives," said Capito in the address released Saturday.The deal, which the Obama... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito criticized President Obama’s Iran deal in the official Republican response to president’s weekly radio address. There’s no reason to trust Iran or its leaders, Capito said. “Iran is the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism. This is the same regime that is currently holding four Americans prisoner,” Capito said. “Its supreme leader said last week that he believes Israel will no longer... Read More

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Procter & Gamble Co. executives joined Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and a host of elected officials and business leaders on Friday to break ground for the Fortune 500 company's new multimillion-dollar plant in Berkeley County. "I want to thank you for choosing the Mountain State because we're thrilled to have you here," said Tomblin, before he, U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito, and company officials hoisted shovels of dirt for the cameras near the plant's... Read More

Two West Virginia health centers are getting help with their fight against opioid overdoses. Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin announced Friday that two West Virginia health centers will receive a total of $200,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the Rural Opioid Overdose Reversal Grant Program. Community Connections Inc in Princeton and Pleasant Valley Hospital in Point Pleasant each will receive $100,000 to help prevent drug overdoses. The money will allow... Read More

U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced funding for housing services for homeless veterans in West Virginia as part of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program on Monday. The funding will help organizations provide permanent housing solutions for homeless veterans and their families, while also engaging in outreach to identify veterans in need, and providing case management for services from the VA and other... Read More