WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, this week participated in a number of Appropriations subcommittee hearings with members of President Donald J. Trump’s Cabinet. The hearings focused on the administration’s FY2019 budget requests for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department of the Interior, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In these hearings, the senator shared with administration officials her continued commitment to economic development, fighting opioid abuse through dedicated funding, broadband access, and several other efforts important to West Virginia.
On Tuesday, Senator Capito presided over a Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing featuring DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. During the hearing, Senator Capito spoke with Secretary Nielsen about issues including building a border wall system, securing elections, the opioid epidemic, and cybersecurity. Click here or the image below to watch Senator Capito’s questioning.
On Wednesday, Senator Capito spoke with officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs at a Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing. Senator Capito questioned the panel about how the opioid epidemic is affecting our veterans and the benefits of agritherapy, a cause she has championed and was able to secure funding for a pilot project through the VA. Click here or the image below for a video.
On Thursday, Senator Capito participated in three Appropriations subcommittee hearings. The first was an Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing where the senator spoke with Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke about the National Park Restoration Act, which she introduced in March. Senator Capito also reiterated the importance of constructing a new Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. Click here or the image below to view the exchange.
Senator Capito then participated in a Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies hearing with HHS Secretary Alex Azar. During the hearing, Senator Capito asked the secretary about a number of issues—including opioid recovery centers, palliative and hospice care facilities, and her work to ensure opioid funding goes to states hit hardest by the epidemic. Click here or the image below to watch Senator Capito’s questioning.
Senator Capito also participated in a Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, speaking with the secretary about three issues—the importance of the Economic Development Administration (EDA), particularly in regard to improving broadband access; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) facility in Fairmont; and her efforts to help establish a regional ethane storage hub in Appalachia. Click here or the image below for a video of the discussion.
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