In The News
Manchin, Capito, others reintroduce Miners Protection Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The federal legislation that would guarantee pension and health care funding for retired coal miners and the widows of miners has been reintroduced in the U.S. Senate. The Miners Protection Act would use money from the Abandoned Mine Lands fund to inject money into a program that has fallen on tough times in recent years for several reasons including a growing number of bankrupt coal companies. The program is currently being funded by a continuing resolution passed by Congre… Continue Reading
01.16.17
New WV bill could help treat eating disorders
NEW YORK - Anna Westin was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa when she was 16. After fighting her insurance company for years to get them to pay for the amount of treatment she required, she committed suicide, feeling like her family would be better off without her as a "burden." In December, Congress passed the 21st Century Cures Act, which includes the Anna Westin Act. The bill will use existing funds to create grant programs to train school personnel, primary care physicians, and mental health … Continue Reading
01.13.17
Editorial: 21st Century Cures Act Measure will help address opioid crisis
While media attention is largely focused now on the ongoing efforts by Republican lawmakers to repeal and replace Obamacare, legislation quietly passed by lawmakers last month - and signed into law by President Barack Obama - will provide billions in federal funding to fight cancer, Alzheimer's and other serious health ailments. The 21st Century Cures Act also allocates more than $1 billion in funding to help fight the deadly opioid crisis that is ravaging states like West Virginia. The measure… Continue Reading
01.12.17
Capito legislation targets revitalization of rural economies
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WTAP) - US Senator Shelley Moore Capito is reintroducing legislation in an effort to encourage investment in communities that are facing economic challenges. It's called the CORE Act, Creating Opportunities for Rural Economies, and it encourages new development by using new markets tax credits to invest in undeserved, low income communities. Since 2000, only 17 projects have been invested in West Virginia, which is far less than neighboring states. West Virginia has suffered … Continue Reading
01.12.17
CORE Act reintroduced in West Virginia
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Recently, Senator Capito reintroduced the CORE Act, which is an act that is designed to create new economic development throughout the State of West Virginia. The CORE Act expands a new market tax credit, which will bring investors into West Virginia. Investors will complete projects to help with downtown revitalization, which could include an expansion of hospitals and schools.Capito mentioned that, in-and-around Martinsburg, some buildings have already been repurposed with… Continue Reading
01.11.17
Capito supports Trump’s transportation secretary pick
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) said she supports President-elect Donald Trump's choice for transportation secretary, Elaine Chao, following Chao's confirmation hearing Wednesday. Capito, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, asked Chao at the hearing about ways to address the transportation needs of rural areas of the country. "I'm concerned about how are we are going to be able to incent the private dollars to go to the less-populated, … Continue Reading
01.11.17
Capito, Jenkins introduce community investment bills
Two West Virginia Republicans yesterday reintroduced proposals to reserve a certain amount of tax credits for communities struggling to cope with the coal industry downturn. For a second straight session, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Rep. Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) introduced the "Creating Opportunities for Rural Economies (CORE) Act" in their respective chambers. "States like West Virginia have suffered from severe job loss in the coal and other industries," Capito said in a statement.… Continue Reading
01.11.17
Capito, Jenkins revive CORE Act in Congress
WASHINGTON - Two West Virginia representatives reintroduced legislation Tuesday that is intended to spur investment in communities facing significant economic challenges due to coal industry job losses and diversify the economy in those communities. U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., reintroduced the Creating Opportunities for Rural Economies (CORE) Act in the U.S. Senate, and U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins, R-W.Va., introduced the bill in the House of Representatives, according to releases from … Continue Reading
01.10.17
Capito, Jenkins introduces legislation to spur redevelopment
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Two of West Virginia's top officials in the United States Congress introduced legislation Tuesday to encourage new development in communities affected by coal-related job loss. United States Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Rep. Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) submitted the Creating Opportunities for Rural Economies (CORE) Act to their respective chambers in order to help improve areas of the state in need of economic development. According to a statement from Capito's office,… Continue Reading
01.09.17
West Virginia senators meet EPA pick
WASHINGTON, D.C. - President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency received positive marks from West Virginia senators this week, with one inviting him to the state to discuss issues related to Wood County communities. In a release from Trump's transition team, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said he believes Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt has the right experience to be the next EPA administrator. "We both come from energy producing states and have a great de… Continue Reading
01.08.17
Capito and Manchin evaluate Trump’s EPA pick
WASHINGTON, D.C. - President-elect Donald Trump's pick to run the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to offer a drastically different approach to the job. Scott Pruitt comes to the position having served as the Oklahoma Attorney General. Pruitt has been part of the multi-state team which has battled recent regulations from the federal agency like the Clean Power Plan. He faces confirmation in the Senate and U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin recently got a chance t… Continue Reading
01.05.17
Senator Capito reflects on meetings with republican cabinet nominees
Throughout the week Senator Shelley Moore Capito met with three of President-Elect Donald Trump's Cabinet Nominees, each of which she says will benefit the State of West Virginia. Capito says that Governor Rick Perry, who is the energy secretary nominee, understands the production and use of energy. In West Virginia, she says that energy production is one thing that the state needs to get up and moving again. She also met with nominee for EPA, Scott Pruitt. She says the Oklahoma Attorney Gen… Continue Reading
01.04.17
Capito added to committee weighing broadband issues
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., has been added to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, which handles many broadband issues. Capito received her committee assignments for the 115th Congress on Tuesday, according to a news release. Capito also will continue to serve on the Senate committees on Appropriations, Environment and Public Works, and Rules and Administration."From repealing burdensome EPA regulations to advancing critical infrastructure and… Continue Reading
01.04.17
Capito to serve on four senate committees
U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito will continue to serve on three Senate committees along with a new assignment of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. She will continue serving on the U.S. Senate Committees on Appropriations, Environment and Public Works, and Rules and Administration. Capito was chairwoman of the appropriation committee's legislative branch subcommittee during the 114th Congress and said she is expected to continue to lead an appropriations subcommittee in the … Continue Reading
01.04.17
Capito meets with EPA nominee Scott Pruitt
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WDTV) - U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, the nominee for EPA administrator, met in Senator Capito's office Wednesday to discuss EPA priorities in the Trump Administration and environmental policies that impact West Virginia. Senator Capito issued this statement following the meeting: "Today's meeting was very productive and it underscored our shared commitment to reining in federal government overreach and getting the EPA … Continue Reading
01.03.17
Rural Broadband Advocate Capito Goes to Senate Commerce
One of four new GOP additions to the Senate Commerce Committee brings with her the goal of making high-speed internet available to more Americans, especially in rural areas. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) joined the committee in the 115th Congress that convened Jan. 3, Republican leaders announced. Capito has championed the cause of expanding broadband availability in underserved areas. Setting telecommunications policy is a pillar of the committee's jurisdiction. Capito plans to "have a … Continue Reading
01.02.17
Gazette Editorial: Menace Eating disorders
Most people don't realize eating disorders are a severe problem affecting 30 million Americans (60,000 estimated in West Virginia). Victims include 20 million women and 10 million men. Teen girls are especially vulnerable because the culture pressures them to look slim - thus, some starve themselves obsessively. One report says: "Eating disorders result in about 7,000 deaths a year as of 2010, making them the mental illness with the highest mortality rate."Sen. Shelley Capito, R-W.Va., deserve… Continue Reading
01.02.17
Editorial: New law also could aid people with eating disorders
The nation's lawmakers in Washington and President Obama earlier this month hailed the passage of the 21st Century Cures Act. They focused much of the fanfare on stepping up efforts to cure cancer and Alzheimer's disease, devoting resources to battling the opioid epidemic and improving access to mental health treatment. All of those are important elements of the act. The increase in resources to combat and prevent addiction to drugs is especially important for our region - one of the hardest-hi… Continue Reading
01.01.17
Capito, Jenkins Look Forward to 2017
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - West Virginia's top officials have high hopes for 2017 as both President-elect Donald Trump and Governor-elect Jim Justice prepare to take office. "I'm really excited about working with the Trump administration," said U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.). "We all are pledging to work with Governor-elect Justice and making sure that, again, that we're moving forward on policies that are going to get people back to work." Capito told MetroNews her personal New Years Re… Continue Reading
12.27.16
Capito Says WIIN Act Addresses Water Infrastructure in Commonsense Bipartisan Way
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) says recent passage of the Water Infrastructure Improvements Act for the Nation will modernize water infrastructure and address flood prevention. "Of particular importance to West Virginia, this bill gives states authority and certainty when regulating coal ash, calls for a study of flood-risk management projects within the Kanawha River Basin, authorizes funding for the high hazard dams across West Virginia that are important to th… Continue Reading
