In The News
Lack of High Speed Internet Continues to Hinder Growth in Fayette
LANSING - Business owners, residents and county officials met with Federal Communications Commissioner Ajit Pai and U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., Tuesday to share the frustrations they feel living, working and driving tourism in a state that ranks 48th in broadband accessibility. Just north of the New River Gorge Bridge, the image chosen for the official West Virginia State Quarter, Lansing is home to rafting companies and substantial residential development. But lack of broadband ac… Continue Reading
07.26.16
Senator Capito Visits Bridge Walk
LANSING - A U.S. senator visited a popular attraction in our area today. Senator Shelley Moore Capito stopped by the Bridge Walk attraction this morning. The senator made the stop as a part of her small business tour. She brought along FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai to take in the sights on the bridge. Capito not only visited and met with the staff, she also put on a harness and walked the attraction. This was a very special trip for Capito, her father Governor Arch Moore, was integral in getting th… Continue Reading
07.25.16
Editorial: Nation Needs ‘All of the Above’ Energy Legislation
Despite the political rhetoric we hear this election season, even some our region's biggest advocates for coal do not expect the industry to return to its glory years. Where coal once accounted for almost 60 percent of the electric power generation in the United States, today that figure is about 32 percent. Forecasters say that even if the U.S. Supreme Court finds unconstitutional the Clean Power Plan, which puts greater restrictions on coal-fired power plants, coal usage will continue to drop… Continue Reading
07.22.16
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito Meets with Community Leaders in Wheeling
WHEELING - Bringing high-speed internet access to even the most remote corners of West Virginia is crucial to rebuilding the state's economy, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito told a group of business leaders Thursday in Wheeling. Capito, R-W.Va., traveled around the Northern Panhandle Thursday, speaking with area leaders and community members in Wheeling and Marshall County. For her morning stop at the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce, Capito touched on her opinions regarding West Virginia's job out… Continue Reading
07.18.16
More Than 600 Getting a ‘Head Start’ in Ohio Valley
To help children up to age 5 prepare for a successful academic experience, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is awarding $6.53 million in grants to Northern Panhandle Head Start Inc. Executive Director Cathy Williams said the Wheeling-based organization usually serves about 600 children in Wetzel, Marshall, Ohio, Brooke and Hancock counties. There are centers as far south as Jacksonburg and as far north as Newell. Parents within the district can send youngsters to head start fre… Continue Reading
07.18.16
Members of West Virginia Congressional Delegation Applaud Passage of Addiction and Recovery Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Legislation that a member of West Virginia's Congressional delegation characterized as "turning the tide" in the fight against drug addiction in the Mountain State and across the U.S. is packed with actions on multiple fronts. "There's probably no issue that's more challenging to our public health and public safety in our time than the drug crisis," said 3rd District Congressman Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.). Of the passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, a package… Continue Reading
07.17.16
Editorial: All-of-the-Above Approach: Energy Bill Important Step by Lawmakers
For the first time in more than a decade, Congress is considering a common sense, all-of-the-above energy bill that includes a renewed focus on clean-coal technology. Area lawmakers argue that the comprehensive legislation will lead to more jobs and revenue in energy-producing states like West Virginia and Virginia. The Senate's Energy and Policy Modernization Act was advanced last week to a House-Senate conference committee.The bill includes several provisions that U.S. Senator Shelley Moore … Continue Reading
07.16.16
Op-Ed by Senator Shelley Moore Capito: Help is on the Way in Fight against Drug Epidemic
This week, the Senate passed a bipartisan measure to address the drug epidemic that is crushing communities across America. The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) takes a broad step forward in the national response to the drug crisis.This legislation, which will soon be signed into law by the president, contains several provisions that will help combat West Virginia's drug epidemic.It expands prevention and education efforts, and promotes resources for treatment and recovery.It incl… Continue Reading
07.14.16
Compromise Drug-Abuse Bill Sent to the President
WASHINGTON - Congress sent President Barack Obama a compromise bill Wednesday aimed at curbing abuse of heroin and other drugs, a nationwide epidemic that kills more than 100 Americans every day. The overwhelming 92-2 Senate vote comes just days before the seven-week congressional break. The legislation, called the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, creates grants and other programs aimed at addressing drug abuse, especially heroin and opioids, a crippling problem that claims victims ac… Continue Reading
07.12.16
U.S. Senate Launches Broadband Caucus
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 Heitka… Continue Reading
07.12.16
Capito, Others, Launch Senate Broadband Caucus
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 acce… Continue Reading
07.12.16
Broadband Caucus Sets Sights on Rural Access Woes
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," S… Continue Reading
07.11.16
New Program Aimed at Drug Traffickers Shows Promise
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 have th… Continue Reading
07.01.16
GOP Senator Races to Block EPA’s Smog Rules
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 p… Continue Reading
06.30.16
U.S. DOT Provides $5.7 Million to Repair WV Roads in the Wake of Floods
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 highways," Capito said in a statemen… Continue Reading
06.30.16
Capito, Manchin Secure Hope for Vote on UMW Pension Bill
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 the bill. "… Continue Reading
06.29.16
West Virginia Congressional Delegation Urges Relief Expansion
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 urged th… Continue Reading
06.28.16
Mine Workers’ Pensions Possible Hurdle for Puerto Rico Debt Bill
(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 White House ahead of a… Continue Reading
06.22.16
Senate GOP Begins Pushback against EPA Smog Rules
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, … Continue Reading
06.22.16
Take Five: Shelley Moore Capito
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. I'm just a natural competitor. I think we all are, a… Continue Reading
