Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), along with 59 of their Senate colleagues, sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler calling for a modernization of Universal Service Fund (USF) rules to ensure that Americans in rural communities have access to affordable broadband services. Under the current rules, Universal Service... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) penned an op-ed in today’s Charleston Daily Mail following a recent hearing examining the legal implications of President Obama’s Clean Power Plan. In the op-ed, Senator Capito previews legislation she will introduce this week to fight back against the overreaching regulations.   “This week, I will introduce an alternative approach with my Senate colleagues. This greenhouse gas legislation will preserve the proper balance of... Read More

Washington, D.C. –U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) today announced that four West Virginia health centers will receive a total of $9,968,539 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The funding will be used to help the health centers continue providing comprehensive primary and preventive health care to local residents.   “It’s so important that our families can get the preventive and primary care that will keep them healthy,” Senator... Read More

Click here to watch Senator Capito's Weekly Address to West Virginians.     Weekly Address to West Virginians May 8, 2015   Hi – I’m Senator Capito, and I’d like to update you on this busy week in Washington.   On Tuesday, I chaired a hearing examining the legal implications of President Obama’s Clean Power Plan, which threatens to wipe out coal, eliminate jobs and drive up energy prices.   West Virginia’s Attorney General Patrick Morrisey spoke at the... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R.-W.Va.) released the following statement about the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, which passed the Senate on a 98-1 vote today:   “When I visited the Middle East in March, I heard grave concerns about the threat a nuclear-armed Iran poses to the United States and our allies. Today’s passage of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act gives the American people, through their elected representative, an opportunity to approve... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) announced a total of $703,600 from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to West Virginia nonprofit and art organizations. The funding will be used to preserve the Mountain State’s cultural heritage and expand opportunities for residents and to experience and participate in the arts.   “Our rich, cultural heritage is an important part of who we are as West Virginians, and the... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito, along with Representatives David McKinley, Alex Mooney and Evan Jenkins, sent a letter to President Obama to express their full support of Governor Tomblin’s request for additional federal assistance due to multiple severe storms that caused considerable damage to infrastructure, homes, personal property and businesses across West Virginia from April 3 through April 5, 2015.   Please read the full text of... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced legislation today to modernize and improve the timeframe for the approval of new pipelines.The Oil and Gas Production and Distribution Reform Act strengthens the role of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to better coordinate government agencies involved in the pipeline permitting process. The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Heidi... Read More

  WASHINGTON, D.C. – Honoring National Nurses Day, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) today introduced the bipartisan National Nurse Act of 2015, legislation that would elevate the role of nurses in America’s public health by designating a National Nurse for Public Health.   The National Nurse position would be created by transforming and elevating an existing position within the U.S. Public Health Service, the Chief Nurse Officer.... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) introduced legislation today to help preserve senior citizens’ access to the prescription drugs and important healthcare services provided by community pharmacies. The bill, Ensuring Seniors Access to Local Pharmacies Act, S. 1190, is co-sponsored by Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH).“Community pharmacies play a critical role in providing healthcare and medication to... Read More

  WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee’s Clean Air and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee, today chaired a hearing examining the legal implications of President Obama’s Clean Power Plan.   Senator Capito delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing:   “Thank you all for being here today for the first Clean Air and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee hearing... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R.-W.Va.) released the following statement about the Senate’s passage of a budget resolution today:   “The American people elected us to make the government more efficient, effective and accountable. Today we have shown that we are capable of governing by voting to approve the first balanced budget in recent memory. American families must live within a budget, states must adhere to a budget, and it is time for the federal government to... Read More

PADEN CITY, W.VA. – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today announced U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development funding for a water and waste disposal project in Paden City. The city will receive a $2.9 million loan and $471,000 grant for needed improvements to its wastewater system.   “Investing in infrastructure projects improves the quality of life for our residents, preserves good-paying jobs and boosts economic development in our... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) today announced $6,787,508 in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to public housing authorities across West Virginia.  The funding will be used for operations and management efforts to help ensure safe and decent public housing across the state.   “In West Virginia, we understand the importance of supporting one another in times of need,” Senator... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As U.S. railroads have increased crude oil shipments by more than 3,300 percent in just the past few years, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) remain concerned that additional safety measures to transport volatile energy products must be implemented in a timely manner. Following today’s release of a new Department of Transportation rule on tank car standards, the Senators sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx... Read More

Click here to watch Senator Capito's Weekly Address to West Virginians. Weekly Address to West VirginiansMay 1, 2015 Hello, I’m Senator Shelley Moore Capito. Thanks for watching my weekly Senate update.On Monday, I convened a drug prevention summit at the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department in Martinsburg.Federal officials, law enforcement and drug control advocates participated in a panel discussion about how to tackle West Virginia’s drug epidemic head on.The... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) penned an op-ed in today’s Martinsburg Journal highlighting the lessons learned and next steps for tackling West Virginia’s drug epidemic following her Drug Prevention Summit in Martinsburg on Monday. “The clear takeaway from Kathy's testimony - and the overwhelming consensus from all involved in Monday's panel discussion is that there is a desperate need for substance abuse treatment facilities in West... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today joined a bipartisan group of senators to introduce the Water Quality Protection Act, which addresses long-standing concerns regarding a rule proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to redefine the “waters of the U.S.” definition under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The proposed rule stems from a draft guidance document on... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) made the following statement about today’s announcement from the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Connect America Fund. The Connect America Fund today offered carriers nationally nearly $1.7 billion to expand and support broadband service in rural areas. “The need for broadband in rural America is great, particularly in West Virginia. While traveling across the Mountain State and meeting constituents, I... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald released today, Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R.-W.Va.) urged the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to act swiftly following reports that older, less expensive medications were being used to treat veterans at the Beckley VA Medical Center (VAMC).Last week, the Office of the Special Counsel sent a letter to President Obama detailing the actions of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee at the Beckley... Read More