In The News

If Senators Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., have their way, any broadband company that wants to use federal money to provide service in rural areas must be screened very carefully.Both senators are members of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and on Wednesday reintroduced the Rural Broadband Protection Act (S.275), which would require a more thorough vetting and verification process for internet service providers seeking to participate in the... Read More

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., has secured another powerful position on a crucial committee.Capito announced Wednesday she is now the top Republican on the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee.That subcommittee oversees funding across a large range of programs within the U.S. Departments of Labor, Education, Health and Human Services (HHS), and other independent agencies.Capito said she is “honored” to serve as Ranking Member,... Read More

Law360 (February 15, 2023, 7:17 PM EST) -- Two senators are trying to make the vetting process tougher for rural broadband telecoms trying to get their hands on Federal Communications Commission-provided high-cost subsidies aimed at closing the digital divide with a new bill. It's the second time Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., have introduced the Rural Broadband Protection Act — it died last year in committee — which they say will help make sure that only... Read More

Sen. Tammy Baldwin will serve as the top Democrat in charge of the appropriations panel whose purview includes the Labor Department.The Wisconsin Democrat takes over for Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), who chaired the HELP Committee last Congress and has taken over the Senate Appropriations gavel.On the Republican side, the spending subcommittee will be led by Sen. Shelly Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), who succeeds the since-retired Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.).In addition to the Labor Department, the... Read More

West Virginia's governor has directed the states's Emergency Management Division (WVEMD) and the Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR) to monitor air and water quality for chemical spills due to a Feb. 3 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio near the West Virginia border.On the evening of Feb. 3, the WVEMD Watch Center was notified of the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Upon notification, WVEMD activated the State Emergency Operations Plan, alerting state agencies and... Read More

Senators on both sides of the aisle say there needs to be a congressional investigation into the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, that resulted in a fire and a toxic chemical spill affecting residents and wildlife for miles.But it's unclear at the moment whether such a probe would focus more on rail operator Norfolk Southern or the federal government's safety standards and response to the Feb. 3 incident.Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, said Tuesday he "certainly" supports an investigation,... Read More

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WV News) — Zylinium Research LLC, an Atlanta-based company creating robust battlefield communications technology, has announced its intention to relocate to Morgantown.The company develops its Spectrum Exchange technology as specialized communications tools to support engagement efforts as commercial-off-the-shelf radio frequency devices and protocols become more widely used, according to a press release from the company.This move will base the company’s business operations... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Lawmakers are looking to amend the Internal Revenue Code to stop broadband deployment funds from being classified as taxable income.According to a recent release from the office of West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito, the driving force behind this effort is a bipartisan group, which includes Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin, looking to reintroduce the Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act (BGTTA) to amend the Internal Revenue Code, which taxes broadband... Read More

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) - Several prominent figures in West Virginia politics are touting the idea of building a blue hydrogen hub in the Appalachian Region.Among those who have expressed support for a blue hydrogen hub in West Virginia include senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito and Governor Jim Justice.A blue hydrogen hub would use natural gas to produce hydrogen for use as a clean source of energy. Blue hydrogen proponents argue that it’s a way to create jobs and economic growth... Read More

Washington, D.C. — The Southern Appalachian Labor School (SALS) in Kincaid has been awarded a $548,000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), one of seven such grants for communities in the state.The SALS grant, according to a joint press release from the offices of Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., will help establish the Coalfields Workforce Construction Training program, providing workforce certifications for displaced coal economy... Read More

PARKERSBURG – U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said Thursday she has been in contact with the president and CEO of the Norfolk and Southern Railroad over the train derailment at East Palestine, Ohio.Capito, R-W.Va., said she spoke with Alan Shaw, president and CEO of Norfolk Southern, about the dangers and what happened.The community of Chester is about 15 miles from the crash site and controlled burn of the suspected carcinogen vinyl chloride.“I think it’s been very difficult for the residents of... Read More

We’re disappointed that President Joe Biden continues to ignore the increasing problems along the southern border between Mexico and the United States.While that may seem like a distant problem to some, the influx of illegal immigrants, as well as the unabated flow of drugs like fentanyl, heroin and meth, continue to fuel this country’s — and West Virginia’s — drug issues.On Thursday, William Ihlenfeld, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia, announced federal indictments in... Read More

WASHINGTON — A West Virginia senator Thursday said she has been in contact with the president and CEO of the Norfolk and Southern Railroad over the train derailment at East Palestine, Ohio.U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said she spoke with Alan Shaw, president and CEO of Norfolk Southern, about the dangers and what happened.The community of Chester, W.Va., is about 15 miles from the crash site and controlled burn of the suspected carcinogen vinyl chloride.“I think it’s been very... Read More

The Republicans ' cold reception to President Joe Biden's very mention of the border during his State of the Union address may have indicated how far the idea of immigration reform may be.Biden was jeered repeatedly on Tuesday night, but on Wednesday, lawmakers were quick to push, bashing the commander in chief for failing to adequately acknowledge the border crisis and the 5 million people who have been encountered in the last two years trying to enter the United States without authorization to... Read More

Washington, D.C. – Two regional health centers are in line to receive multi-million-dollar awards from the federal government as part of a $17.16 million package coming to West Virginia to strengthen health care services to address sexually transmitted diseases and bolster scientific research projects around mental health and environmental hazards.Community Health Systems of Beckley, doing business as Access Health, will receive a $3.37 million award, and New River Health Association of Scarbro... Read More

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, joined U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) and all 47 of their Senate Republican colleagues in introducing a formal challenge to the Biden administration’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule through a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution of disapproval.The resolution comes after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced a new rule in December... Read More

On Feb. 6, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., made several stops in Kanawha County where she met with community leaders, lawmakers, students, and a military family.First, Capito delivered remarks at the West Virginia Association of Counties’ legislative meeting. During her address, Capito spoke about the vital role county governments have throughout West Virginia, efforts to connect unserved and underserved areas of the state with reliable broadband, economic development, the... Read More

Local leaders will be able to plan improvements in pedestrian, bicycle and motorized safety in the gateway communities throughout Fayette and Raleigh counties of the New River Gorge, thanks to recent approval of a $199,200 U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) grant.The Safe Streets and Roads for All proposal was submitted Sept. 20, 2022 by the Fayette/Raleigh Metropolitan Planning Organization.According to a press release, the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) assisted... Read More

WHEELING, W.Va. (WTRF) — If you happen to take a visit to the campus of Wheeling University, you’re going to have to pardon the dust.They are currently in the early phases of some major and much needed updates to the Challenger Learning Center. U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito recently announced the Challenger Center would receive $3 million through a Congressional spending request. The money will be used for a newly designed facility that will include replacing the current space simulator. It... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden delivered his second State of the Union address last night to the 118th Congress and got similar responses from both state and U.S. representatives of West Virginia.U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito hoped the President would put politics aside and focus on the issues she calls as critical to American families during his address in the house chamber.However, Capito said Biden did not accomplish the need of togetherness he so often seeks from lawmakers and... Read More