In The News

Now that lawmakers have secured a permanent health care fix for more than 22,600 retired coal miners who were at risk of losing their health benefits, efforts are now focused on securing the endangered pensions of those same coal miners.Legislation introduced last week in the U.S. Senate, called the Miners Pension Protection Act, would secure the nation’s retired miners pensions by shoring up the 1974 pension plan which is headed for insolvency due to coal company... Read More

BECKLEY – In an effort to expand care programs for drug-exposed newborns, U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins, R-W.Va., and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., introduced bipartisan legislation Wednesday called the Caring Recovery for Infants and Babies (CRIB) Act. The CRIB Act would build on the best practices of Lily’s Place in Huntington for treating babies born exposed to heroin, opioids and other drugs. It would also make it easier for similar centers to open across the... Read More

Significant federal funding cuts proposed to the Office of National Drug Control Policy would undercut ongoing efforts here in southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia to combat the region’s opioid epidemic. And that could mean fewer resources locally to fight the ever-growing drug addiction problem.Area lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., are urging the Trump administration to reconsider any funding cuts to the Office of National Drug Control Policy.... Read More

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — Law enforcement agencies in Wood County are working to gain federal resources to combat drug abuse in its communities.The Parkersburg Violent Crime and Narcotics Task Force is hoping Wood County will be designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, which would enable further coordination with federal, state and local law enforcement officials to combat problems related to drug use.The task force consists of the West Virginia State Police, the Wood County... Read More

U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito and Heidi Heitkamp have introduced legislation they hope will help stop the rate of maternal deaths in the country.The goal of the bill is to boost resources to combat the problem by expanding maternal mortality review committees to study and address causes of maternal death cases to make pregnancies safe, according to the Friday news release.“The number of women dying in this country due to pregnancy complications is staggering — especially when you... Read More

While we understand the need for the federal government to get spending under control, proposed cuts to drug-fighting efforts are bad news for West Virginia.The Trump Administration is proposing slashing the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) budget from $380 million to $24 million. That will render it basically useless.In the midst of a drug epidemic of historic proportion, where more and more of our young people die each day before they can seek treatment, the 95 percent cut is... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) Monday announced West Virginia will receive an additional $3,212,000 through the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery program (CDBG-DR).These funds are used to support recovery from major disasters, such as last June’s floods. The additional funding brings the total amount the state will receive to assist in disaster recovery efforts to $107,492,000 for FY2017.Senator Capito... Read More

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., announced Monday additional funds West Virginia will receive to support recovery efforts related to the June 2016 floods.The $3.2 million in assistance comes from the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery program, which is controlled by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.Twenty-three people died in last year’s flood. Additionally, a state of emergency was declared across... Read More

Officials with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy should have no problem granting the request of Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., to designate Wood County a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. Last year, Wood County ranked just fifth in the state for fatal drug overdoses, with the number of deaths having risen 260 percent between 2010 and 2016.Right here at home, 23 of every 100,000 residents suffers a fatal... Read More

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., is urging the Trump Administration to reconsider any funding cuts to the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) as the nation, especially West Virginia, grapples with a devastating opioid epidemic.Capito cited press reports that the administration intends to recommend a 95 percent cut to the ONDCP.In a letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, Capito said a realistic budget that demonstrates the... Read More

Sens. Shelley Moore Capito, R- W.Va., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., have joined forces with Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, to co-sponsor a bill that would study whether an underground ethane storage hub could be created in central Appalachia.The Appalachian Ethane Storage Hub Study Act of 2017 was sponsored by the three senators, Capito announced Wednesday, May 11.“Making the most of our energy and manufacturing potential is critical to driving economic growth and development in states like West... Read More

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., is urging the Trump administration to not slash the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s budget.Capito sent a letter Tuesday to Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney asking him to reconsider reported cuts to the office, which is focused on combating drug use and trafficking.The budget would aim to recommend a 95 percent cut to the drug office for the 2018 fiscal year. The office received $388 million in... Read More

U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., reintroduced legislation Thursday to help seniors access prescription drugs and health care services provided by community pharmacies.  The Ensuring Seniors Access to Local Pharmacies Act, also co-sponsored by Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, will provide individuals on Medicare Part D more flexibility to choose pharmacies in their communities without paying additional costs. “In states like West... Read More

Certainly it is not very often a piece of federal legislation could have a positive and profound impact here in Preston County. But perhaps a bipartisan bill pushed by Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., might be one of the first. The legislation she helped introduce is called the CTE Excellence and Equity Act, which would support re-designing the high school experience to include courses more relevant to the 21st century workforce to better prepare students for future careers. Along with... Read More

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., introduced Wednesday tech-neutral legislation to accelerate the development of high-speed internet in low-income and rural communities.  The Gigabit Opportunity Act, or “GO Act,” expands broadband in these communities by targeting investments to areas with the greatest need, eliminating barriers to investment and streamlining patchwork regulations. “The economic benefits of broadband are clear, especially in West Virginia,”... Read More

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. – In an age where connectivity seems to be more important than ever, West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito is campaigning to improve broadband availability across the state through the Gigabit Opportunity Act. Capito said there are too many areas across West Virginia that struggle with connectivity. Specifically, in the Eastern Panhandle, she said that the ability to deliver high speed and affordable access is crucial to economic development in the area.One example... Read More

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., has introduced federal legislation intended to make it easier for companies to expand broadband internet service to rural communities. Capito introduced the Gigibit Opportunity Act on Wednesday, May 3, according to a a news release. The legislation would give temporary tax deferments to broadband providers and allow communities to set up "Gigabit Opportunity Zones" to encourage expansion. “The economic benefits of broadband are clear, especially in... Read More

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., joined Tim Kaine, D-Va.; Rob Portman, R-Ohio; Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; and Todd Young, R-Ind., to introduce the CTE Excellence and Equity Act, which aims to redesign high school programs to include courses more relevant to the 21st century workforce. The goal is to prepare students for better careers and would amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, which increased the focus on academic achievement of career and technical... Read More

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: West Virginia coal miners have long supplied the labor to move this nation forward. Dating back to the days of pickaxe and shovel, miners have toiled long and hard, providing the fuel that powered industry and its evolution over the years. Even today, despite attempts to lessen its role in power generation, coal remains a valuable source and will for the foreseeable future.Which brings us to the need to deliver on promises made to these... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The federal government funding bill set to be voted on this week by Congress includes just more than $800 million to combat opioid abuse problems, according to U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito. During a conference call with reporters Monday afternoon, Capito said the money will address the issue over a wide spectrum including more money for treatment and overdose reversal, funding for community health centers to help with prevention and treatment along with... Read More