U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., voted in favor of the agriculture appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2016, which the senators said provides funding for a number of West Virginia priorities, including rural broadband expansion and free and reduced-price school lunches.
The FY2016 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill would invest in food and drug safety and provide essential nutrition assistance for children, families and seniors, including funds for free or reduced-price school lunches.
It also would help support rural broadband expansion, agricultural research conducted by land grant universities and Rural Utilities Services programs including source water protection, the circuit rider program and the electric program.
Capito has been advocating for broadband expansions, with recent efforts it expanding access.
“This bill funds many programs that directly impact all West Virginians. It ensures our food supply is safe and available, our ability to use electricity and water remains reliable and affordable, and our access to broadband is improved and expanded — a key component of my Capito Connect Plan,” Capito said in a news release about the bill. “This is the eleventh appropriations bill the committee has passed this year, far outpacing the appropriations process in years past, and I am proud to be a part of getting the Senate back to work for West Virginia.”
The FY2016 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill was approved by the Appropriations Committee on a bipartisan 28-2 vote.
