Op-eds

Over the last year, in communities all across the country, 1.4 million Americans started abusing opioids. Every day, 51 more people are killed by an overdose. We’ve seen enough data to know that this is a crisis. Why are so many people with no history of drug use becoming addicted to opioids? One of the most culpable root causes — one that we can quickly fix, if Congress and the medical community are willing to act — is the over-prescription of opioids. Earlier this week, the... Read More

As I travel across West Virginia, I hear about the drug epidemic that is devastating the lives of too many families. With our state leading the nation in drug-related overdose deaths — more than twice the national average — our communities are grappling with the seriousness and pain of addiction. Sadly, drug addiction is a disease that knows no boundaries. Our friends, loved ones and neighbors have all been affected.The urgency of this epidemic demands that we change the course. With... Read More

West Virginia is no stranger to large-scale energy production. We have long been one of the nation's largest energy producing states, and we are proud to power America. The recent expansion of the natural gas industry has only added to our abundant energy supply, and it has provided a sense of optimism for the industry's future. Since the first Marcellus Shale permit was issued in 2005, the amount of natural gas recovered in West Virginia has grown more than 300 percent.West Virginia's Northern... Read More

West Virginia’s economy is facing difficult times. There is no question about it. Our unemployment rate remains well above the national average, our state ranks last nationally in labor force participation with only 53 percent of eligible West Virginians working, layoff notices keep coming and declining coal severance taxes are eroding the state’s budget. Much of this economic hardship is due to the overregulation that has become a staple of the Obama Administration. Harmful... Read More

“Even after this deal, our policy toward the arrogant U.S. will not change.”This statement by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei should invoke serious concern about entering into a nuclear agreement with the world’s largest state sponsor of terror. For months, I have carefully considered Iran’s actions along with the provisions of the president’s nuclear deal. I asked, will this agreement eliminate Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon? Will it... Read More

As West Virginia's drug epidemic continues to grow, so too must our efforts to fight back. Our state is no stranger to the heartbreak and devastation that accompanies drug addiction. According to a recent study, West Virginia has the highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the nation. In fact, West Virginia's drug overdose death rate is more than double the national average with 34 overdose deaths for every 100,000 West Virginia residents. Pair these staggering statistics with the recent surge... Read More

As West Virginia's drug epidemic continues to grow, so too must our efforts to fight back. Our state is no stranger to the heartbreak and devastation that accompanies drug addiction. According to a recent study, West Virginia has the highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the nation. In fact, West Virginia's drug overdose death rate is more than double the national average with 34 overdose deaths for every 100,000 West Virginia residents. Pair these staggering statistics with the recent surge... Read More

President Obama in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, in Washington, D.C. (AP) President Obama's carbon mandates finalized on Monday are nothing more than a smokescreen for bureaucratic actions that will not withstand judicial scrutiny, which has become common place for rulemaking under this administration.   Adjustments from the proposed to final rule consist of tricky, legal maneuvering meant to delay injured parties’ day in court. The Environmental Protection Agency... Read More

In an excitement-filled classroom at Glen Dale Elementary School earlier this month, I had a chance to witness the power of digital learning tools in action. As students eagerly shouted the answers to an interactive educational game being projected at the front of classroom, they were learning in a new and dynamic way. Technology has transformed the classroom since my days as a student at Glen Dale Elementary School. As digital learning resources continue to evolve, so too must the ability for... Read More

Kelly Surveying, a small business with offices throughout West Virginia, has been providing engineering, surveying and inspection services throughout West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania for 20 years. With several offices and employees, Kelly Surveying depends on the internet to communicate and share documents with staff for new construction projects and to provide immediate response in the event of a mine disaster. Like many West Virginia businesses, Kelly Surveying has borne the brunt of the... Read More

WASHINGTON – West Virginia's best days are ahead of us – this I firmly believe. But, before we can reach our full potential, we must tackle the drug addiction epidemic that is crushing our communities. The number of lives being lost to drug abuse is devastating. West Virginia leads the nation in overdose deaths, and because we are such a small state, we feel this pain more than most. This issue crosses all boundaries of age, race and gender. It does not discriminate. One of my... Read More

Twenty million - that's the estimated number of human trafficking victims worldwide. Hundreds of thousands of these victims are Americans - mostly women and children - and many are right here in our own backyard. When I first learned about human trafficking and saw the statistics, I was shocked that this horrific industry was making a fortune within our borders. In the United States alone, human trafficking rakes in an astounding $9.8 billion from the use and abuse of victims. While not in... Read More

President Obama’s veto of the bipartisan Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act this week is extremely disappointing. Once again, the president has decided to stand in the way of energy development and jobs rather than shift to a more responsible energy policy. The implications of this decision are far reaching, especially in West Virginia where our energy resources, infrastructure and jobs are inextricably linked. My first act in the Senate was co-sponsoring the Keystone XL Pipeline Approval... Read More