In The News
Op-Ed by Senator Shelley Moore Capito: 21st Century Cures Act will benefit W.Va.
Health and wellness are often top of mind as a New Year rolls around. We resolve to eat better and exercise more often after a holiday season full of indulgence. This year, Congress is poised to help improve the health of nearly every American family, including many in West Virginia. Earlier this month, the 21st Century Cures Act, or Cures, was signed into law and several West Virginians were there, symbolizing the numerous benefits this legislation will bring to our state. This bipartisan law… Continue Reading
12.23.16
Six months post-June flood: a ‘time to pull together,’ Capito says
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Friday night will mark six months since historic flood waters ripped through parts of central and southeastern West Virginia, washing away homes and claiming nearly two dozen lives. Not one West Virginian can say they don't remember that devastating day on June 23, 2016, including U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.). "West Virginia has had a really rough time," she said. With the new year approaching, Capito said, "It should be our time. It's time for us to pull tog… Continue Reading
12.22.16
Daily Mail editorial: Obama’s stream protection rule a loser on two fronts
The Stream Protection Rule, recently released by the Obama administration, is yet another indication that governing under President Barack Obama has been more about preening before constituency groups than actually accomplishing much for the public. Thrown into the mix in the last days of the Obama Administration, this new environmental rule is viewed with skepticism by many, including U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., who has vowed to block its effects. "The Stream Protection Rule woul… Continue Reading
12.19.16
WV Congressional leaders oppose final version of stream rule
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) won't be alone in protesting the recently released final iteration of the Obama Administration's Stream Protection Rule. "I joined with 22 other Senators to ask the Administration to please not move forward with any more rules and regulations as you are going out the door," she said Monday morning on MetroNews "Talkline" with Hoppy Kercheval. "And obviously, that's not what they decided they wanted to do." The Stream Protection Rule … Continue Reading
12.19.16
WV awarded $87M in grant funds for flood recovery
West Virginia was awarded about $87 million through a federal grant to use toward flood relief, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., announced Monday evening. The $87 million comes from a disaster relief program through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Block Grant, according to a release from Capito's office. It's in addition to the $17 million the program dedicated in October to help the Mountain State recover from the historic June floods. In September, Gov. Ea… Continue Reading
12.16.16
Capito calls on Trump to address Miners Protection Act in early 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito is asking President-elect Donald Trump to address the Miners Protection Act early in his administration after a short-term extension of miners' health benefits. "There will be a need to address this issue again in the early part of next year," Capito spokeswoman Ashley Berrang told The West Virginia Record. A government-funding bill known as the "continuing resolution" also calls for critical resources to help West Virginia communities recov… Continue Reading
12.16.16
Capito urges Obama to stop issuing new non-emergency regulations
CHARLESTON - U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito has joined 21 other senators in urging President Obama to stop issuing new, non-emergency rules and regulations while his term wraps up. Capito, a West Virginia Republican, was one of 22 senators to stress they expect to have regulatory relief based on what the American people have dictated with the results of the Nov. 8 election. "Far-reaching regulations have been a key pillar of this administration, hurting farmers, small businesses, manufacturers… Continue Reading
12.16.16
Gazette editorial: Senators Manchin, Capito right on saving miners’ pensions
Since World War II, mostly out-of-state owners have eliminated 100,000 West Virginia mine jobs by replacing workers with machines. Lately, numerous coal corporations declared bankruptcy to duck liability for miner pension and health plans. As the coal industry shrinks, less revenue is pumped into the United Mine Workers various medical and pension funds, created with federal help in 1946 to resolve a national coal strike. The problem became a crisis this year as 16,000 retired miners in seven s… Continue Reading
12.16.16
Capito Unhappy With Just 4-Month Extension on Miners Benefits
Last week, Congress approved a continuing resolution that will fund the federal government through April 2017. The resolution also extended healthcare benefits for tens of thousands of miners and their families by four months. Members of Congress spent more than a year debating how to fund both the healthcare and pensions of tens of thousands of miners across the country. The benefits were promised to miners more than 40 years ago by the federal government, but funding for the programs is runni… Continue Reading
12.15.16
Editorial: Wisdom: Sen. Capito smart to address broadband access with Trump
West Virginia lags behind most states in a variety of economic opportunity indicators. Among the most critical is availability of high-speed internet access. Our state ranks 45th on a list of 56 states and territories examined by the federal government for broadband access. It is available to only about two-thirds of the state, according to one study. Another study estimates as many as 56 percent of Mountain State residents lack adequate broadband service. Given our terrain, it simply is not p… Continue Reading
12.14.16
With Obama’s Exit Near, Capito Accentuates the Positive
Shelley Moore Capito has spent much of her first two years as the junior U.S. senator from West Virginia trying to limit the damage being done to the coal industry and the economy of our state by the policies of the Obama administration. If not for her - and Joe Manchin's - efforts to stem the tide of bureaucratic tyranny, we'd be much worse off than we are now. Late last year, she and Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota introduced a bipartisan resolution of disapproval in response t… Continue Reading
12.12.16
Legislation aims to help eating disorder patients
A federal bill passed last week may ultimately help expand treatment options for the tens of thousands of West Virginians who will suffer from an eating disorder in their lifetime, officials say. The 21 Century Cures Act, which, along with the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016, passed the Senate with a 94-5 vote last week and is expected to be signed by President Barack Obama today, contains key aspects of the Anna Westin Act, a bill co-sponsored by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va. The act, a… Continue Reading
12.12.16
Capito encourages Trump to include broadband in infrastructure proposals
CHARLESTON, WV (WCHS/WVAH) - U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va. has asked President-elect Donald Trump to include broadband internet expansion to any future infrastructure proposals made in his administration. In a letter to Trump dated Dec. 9, Capito called high-speed internet access a "pillar" of 21st century infrastructure and said Trump's policies on pipelines and highways should apply to broadband as well. Overhauling the nation's infrastructure was one of Trump's most prominent campa… Continue Reading
12.11.16
Editorial: GOP Agenda
West Virginia's Republican congressional and state leaders say they are ready to work with President-elect Donald Trump on rolling back cumbersome environmental regulations while also working to promote a business-friendly environment. We believe the local delegation will be well positioned - both in Washington and Charleston - to make positive change. Republicans control both West Virginia legislative houses, both houses of the U.S. Congress and soon the presidency. Members of the GOP delegati… Continue Reading
12.10.16
After losing showdown on miners’ benefits fix, delegation vows to fight in January — and bring in Trump
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Those vowing to fight for a long-term fix to union miners' healthcare plans lost a showdown in Congress, but West Virginia's congressional delegation vowed to take up the fight again next month. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump, asking him to work on the issue as he assumes office. Trump promised to fight for miners and their jobs when he visited West Virginia last spring. "Preserving retirement benefits for our nation's c… Continue Reading
12.10.16
Capito calls on Trump to join fight for miners’ benefits
WASHINGTON DC - Senator Shelley Moore Capito is calling on President-Elect Donald Trump to make the Miners Protection Act a priority in his first days in office. Capito voted in the majority in favor of the continuing resolution on Friday night to fund the government. The resolution contained only a short-term solution for the pending problems associated with retired miner's health benefits. "I am very disappointed that the continuing resolution only extends health care coverage to our miners f… Continue Reading
12.10.16
GOP senator presses Trump to back miners' benefits
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) is calling on President-elect Donald Trump to take up the cause of miners' healthcare benefits, after a provision championed by coal-state senators was left out of a stopgap funding bill passed by the Senate on Friday night. "Preserving retirement benefits for our nation's coal miners is among the most important and pressing items on the congressional agenda," Capito wrote in a letter to Trump late Friday. Capito's "Miners Protection Act" would preserve heal… Continue Reading
12.09.16
U.S. Service Academy nomination puts teen closer to achieving lifelong dream
CLARKSBURG, W.Va (WDTV) - While most high school students are starting to get college acceptance letters, others are awaiting letters of another kind. Students pursuing U.S . Service academies may have to wait a little longer for acceptance letters, but nominations are out! And for one Notre Dame High school student receiving a nomination puts him one step closer to his dream. Senior Alex Altenburg wears many hats at Notre Dame High school. "One of the biggest things I do here at Notre Dame is… Continue Reading
12.08.16
Anti-opioid bill on its way to White House
WASHINGTON - A bill that includes major funding to combat the opioid epidemic passed the Senate on Wednesday and now makes its way to the White House. The 21st Century Cures Act will allow for $1 billion over two years in funding to be distributed in the form of grants to states to combat the opioid epidemic. Funding will supplement state activities such as improving prescription drug monitoring programs, implementing prevention activities, training for health care providers and expanding acces… Continue Reading
12.08.16
Congress passes eating disorders legislation
An estimated 30 million Americans experience an eating disorder in their lifetimes and more than 61,000 are currently suffering in West Virginia, according to studies. But help is on its way, a news release from West Virginia University Disordered Eating Center suggests. On Dec. 7, Congress passed legislation designed to help people with eating disorders for the first time in its history. The measure is making its way to President Barrack Obama's desk within the week, with the expectation he w… Continue Reading
