In The News

WASHINGTON – West Virginia leaders are hailing the confirmation of Scott Pruitt as the new administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Pruitt, formerly Oklahoma’s attorney general, was nominated by President Trump and confirmed by the Senate on Feb. 17 with a 52-46 vote. He replaces Gina McCarthy. “I sincerely believe West Virginia will have a friend in Scott Pruitt,” West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said in a statement. “Scott’s... Read More

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., have reintroduced the Improving Transparency and Accuracy in Medicare Part D Drug Spending Act. The legislation, previously introduced in the 114th Congress, would prohibit Medicare Part D plan sponsors and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from retroactively reducing payments on accurate reimbursement claims submitted by pharmacies. In 2008, Congress required that pharmacies be paid promptly, within 14 days, for accurate Medicare... Read More

PARKERSBURG — West Virginia’s two U.S. senators Friday voted to confirm the nominee for administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Scott Pruitt was confirmed on a 52-46 vote that fell on partisan lines. Only one Republican, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, voted against him. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Sen. Heidi Heitkmap, D-N.D., were the only Democrats who voted in favor of the nomination from President Donald Trump.“Every West Virginian wants clean air and clean... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Both U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin voted in favor of the confirmation of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt for EPA administrator Friday. Pruitt was confirmed 52-46. According to Capito, Pruitt answered more than 200 direct questions from committee members during his confirmation hearing and more than 1,000 follow-up questions. “Attorney General Pruitt is the most thoroughly vetted nominee for administrator in the history of the EPA.... Read More

Rep. Evan Jenkins and Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito are working in their respective chambers to fight for health protections for West Virginians. In a release Wednesday, Jenkins said he is fighting to strengthen and protect black lung benefits for miners, retirees and widows.   Jenkins is asking Congress to support his resolution, HR 26, which reaffirms Congress’ commitment to preserving and protecting black lung benefits and the Byrd amendment as health... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump made good on a campaign promise to repeal the Obama administration’s Stream Protection Rule when he signed a resolution eliminating it in a ceremony outside the Oval Office Thursday afternoon. Trump was surrounded by a handful of coal miners and members of Congress including the entire West Virginia congressional delegation. “This will eliminate another terrible job-killing rule saving many thousands of American jobs... Read More

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., was among 57 senators to vote to overturn a rule requiring background checks on some Social Security recipients that was passed during the final days of the administration of President Barack Obama. The rule would have prohibited gun ownership by Social Security recipients who receive disability payments for mental health reasons, including depression or an eating disorder, whose disability requires a payee to manage their financial affairs. Opponents of... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, three of President Trump's new Cabinet members were confirmed. Linda McMahon was sworn-in as the Small Business Administration Administrator. Steven Mnuchin was sworn-in as the Secretary of the Treasury. Dr. David Shulkin is the Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary. Senator Shelley Moore Capito said she's looking forward to working with each Cabinet member.She said she's been impressed with President Trump's choices, saying each of them are very... Read More

WASHINGTON D.C. – West Virginia U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito made her way to the White House this week to meet with President Trump. At the meeting, Capito along with other U.S. Senators discussed President Trump's nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, Neil Gorsuch. Both Republicans and Democrats were in attendance, including Democratic West Virginia U.S. Senator Joe Manchin.During the meeting, Capito raised the issue of the opioid epidemic in the region and the group talked about... Read More

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., will continue leading the Clean Air and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee during the 115th Congress, according to a news release. The subcommittee oversees EPA regulations established under the Clean Air Act, including rules to curb carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants. "As chair of this important subcommittee during the last Congress, I hosted two field hearings in southern West Virginia to examine the impact of EPA carbon... Read More

WASHINGTON – West Virginia's U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito were among a group of senators who met Thursday with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence in Washington, D.C. "I raised the issue of the digital divide that exists in rural America and encouraged the president to include broadband in any infrastructure package," Capito, a Republican, said in a prepared statement after the meeting. "We also discussed solutions for curbing the opioid epidemic and... Read More

WASHINGTON, DC – West Virginia's two senators met with President Donald Trump during a special bipartisan meeting at the White House on Thursday. Sen. Joe Manchin stated the meeting was productive and the group discussed several issues including Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch. Manchin released the following statement on Twitter. He did not mention whether or not he will vote in favor of Gorsuch.  Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said the group also discussed the opioid epidemic and... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — West Virginia U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito were part of a bipartisan group of senators invited to the White House Thursday for a meeting with President Donald Trump. Manchin released the following statement shortly after the gathering: “Today my colleagues and I had a very productive meeting with President Trump. We discussed his Supreme Court nominee Judge Gorsuch, ways we can improve and invest in our infrastructure and fighting... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Many republican leaders across the country have voiced concerns regarding the replacement of Obamacare, specifically here in the Eastern Panhandle. West Virginia Senator, Shelley Moore Capito, said that she believes West Virginians deserve access to affordable quality healthcare. On Thursday, Capito outlined plans for what she said will be a serious replacement plan called the Patient Freedom Act of 2017.She said the plan will reduce Obamacare regulations that caused... Read More

For many in West Virginia, Obamacare’s skyrocketing costs, few insurance options and limited choices in doctors and hospitals have hurt families, patients and small businesses. At the same time, others have benefited from our state’s decision to expand coverage through Medicaid. Still, the reality is that Obamacare is not working for a majority of Americans. Congress recently took the first steps toward repealing Obamacare and transitioning toward policies that will make health care... Read More

Congressional Republicans have formally kicked off their campaign to roll back pieces of former President Obama’s environmental agenda — but progressive activists are mounting fierce resistance to their efforts. Leaders in both the House and Senate on Monday introduced measures that would overturn the Obama administration’s so-called “Stream Protection Rule,” an Interior Department regulation that adds new restrictions to coal development by requiring companies... Read More

WASHINGTON – Lawmakers have introduced resolutions of disapproval in an effort to overturn the Stream Protection Rule, one of last acts finalized under former President Barack Obama. In December, the Department of Interior Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement finished guidelines to protect 6,000 miles of waterways and 52,000 acres of forestry, mainly in West Virgini, Ohio, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. As part of the rules, a 100-foot buffer zone must be... Read More

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., will continue to serve as a counsel to the majority leader in the 115th Congress, according to a release from Capito's office. Capito is one of four counsels to the majority leader in the 115th Congress. As counsel, Capito will offer input, guidance and advice to the Republican leadership. Capito will also continue to serve as a member of the Senate Republican Whip Team in the 115th Congress.As a member of the Appropriations Committee,... Read More

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – A handwritten note from President Donald Trump to Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., shows his support for West Virginia's coal miners. On Dec. 9, 2016, Capito wrote to then President-elect Trump of her concerns about preserving retirement benefits for the nation's coal miners, saying, "I write to you to request your help and support for enacting the Miners Protection Act early in the 115th Congress." A handwritten note from President Trump on the... Read More

CHARLESTON, WV (WCHS/WVAH) — President Donald Trump responded to a call to action from U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, telling her he is for West Virginia’s coal miners. On December 9, Capito sent Trump a letter calling for him to take up the Miners Protection Act in his administration. On Wednesday, Capito received the letter back with a handwritten note from Trump saying, “I am all for the miners.”The Miners Protection Act is an... Read More