CHARLESTON, W.Va. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), both members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $1,972,075 for the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This funding will reimburse costs accrued from COVID-19 testing and support services that the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission provided to universities, state colleges, and community colleges throughout West Virginia from July 1, 2021 to August 11, 2021.

“Not only did the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission face unprecedented challenges created by COVID-19, but they worked to overcome them and played an important role in returning our higher education students to campus and the classroom. We must continue to do all we can to limit the spread of COVID-19 at our colleges and universities, while maintaining academic opportunities for our students. This funding will help accomplish this goal,” Senator Capito said.

“West Virginia higher education professors, staff and students have worked to keep their campuses safe while preventing the spread of COVID-19. This funding will help the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission support the higher education community by providing testing and other services to combat COVID-19 on campuses. I will continue to advocate for funding to keep our campuses open and provide a quality, safe education to West Virginia students,” Senator Manchin said.

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