Dear West Virginian,

Our state has done a great job of flattening the curve. We’ve social distanced, stayed at home, worn masks, and washed our hands.

As West Virginia continues to open up (and I sure am glad we are!), I think it’s important to remember to maintain safety practices like washing hands frequently and wearing masks in stores.

Most of all, I want to encourage everyone to be extra kind to our local business owners. Restaurants and small business owners have been through a lot during the past couple months. Being patient while they navigate this new normal and implement new safety standards goes a long way.

In case you missed it, the other week, I shared some examples of kindness we are seeing in our communities across West Virginia in a recent speech on the Senate floor. Check it out here.

We’re all in this together. There is light at the end of this tunnel. We are West Virginia strong.

Supporting Our National Guard

I’m so glad President Trump announced this week he would be extending the Title 32 order for our National Guard. Our National Guard plays a tremendous role in our fight against the coronavirus, and they deserve full support and benefits for the vital work they are performing in our communities right now.

This comes after I joined with colleagues to urge President Trump, U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Mark Esper, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Peter Gaynor to help provide improved status, leave, healthcare, and reimbursement benefits to National Guard service members that are providing invaluable support services in response to COVID-19.

Specifically, we requested:

An extension of the National Guards Title 32 orders, which are currently in place until June 24.

An exemption for National Guard members from having to use annual leave to quarantine. The letter also requests that members be able to sell back their leave or roll it over.

Members who were activated are provided Transition Assistance Management Program (TAMP) for 180 days after coming off Title 32 orders.
The GI Bill and retirement benefits are protected for these members currently serving under Title 32.

President Trump’s announcement means our National Guard can continue their critical work and get the proper compensation.

Supporting Our Economy and the Environment

An important update for our energy industry: On Friday, the IRS finally released its regulatory guidance related to the 45Q tax credit for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). CCUS is an essential technology for reducing carbon emissions while preserving and growing jobs in the US economy.

This announcement comes after several follow up letters and a February phone call with U.S. Department of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin where I pressed the agency to issue these guidelines.

The 45Q tax credit is the result of a bipartisan bill I helped write, the Furthering Carbon Capture, Utilization, Technology, Underground Storage, and Reduced Emissions (FUTURE) Act. This legislation was signed into law by President Donald Trump on February 9, 2018.

More info: https://bit.ly/2McHYJy

REMINDER: Make Sure You Get Your Individual Check!

If you haven’t visited it already, the IRS has opened an online portal for lower-income individuals who are not required to file a tax return, have not filed tax returns for 2018 or 2019, and are not on Social Security retirement, Social Security disability (SSDI), or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The purpose of the portal is to provide information in order to receive a stimulus check. Enter your information to track the status of your payment here.

Those who have filed a return for 2018 or 2019 or are on Social Security retirement, SSI, or SSDI do not need to do anything to receive their check.

However, if you’re on SSI and have dependents, you’ll need to fill out additional information to get the extra $500 per child.

Here’s a great Q&A page on the IRS site. If you have questions, check it out!

And here’s another good Q&A page that provides more details about your Economic Impact Payments (EIP).

Be Vigilant for Scammers!

Unfortunately, there are bad actors that are using this health crisis to take advantage of unsuspecting residents, especially our senior citizens. Please note the IRS WILL NOT call you and ask for your bank account information to deposit your individual relief check.

Check out my coronavirus webpage for more information about scams and what I’m doing to try and mitigate them.

Additional Resources

I created a page on my website with information and resources to keep you up-to-date on the coronavirus situation as it continues to evolve. Check out that page here, and please share with friends so they can keep up with the latest.

In addition to my webpage, I also want to make sure you know where to get the latest updates from the medical experts at CDC.gov and West Virginia DHHR.

I will continue doing my best to keep you up to speed on what we are doing here at the federal level to help and other resources that can be useful back at home. I will be posting regular updates on my Facebook and Twitter accounts, so be sure to follow me there.

Important Information If You’re Visiting DC

Because of coronavirus concerns, all Capitol and White House tours have been suspended indefinitely. Please contact our Washington office to reschedule. Additionally, requests for flags flown over the Capitol may be delayed, and access to the Capitol and House and Senate office buildings is being restricted. Feel free to contact our office at (202) 224-6472 with any questions. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Counting on West Virginia

Have you taken your 2020 census yet? PLEASE DO!

aking the census takes 10 minutes and could mean thousands of more federal dollars for West Virginia!

Do you part and take it here: https://my2020census.gov/

Over the past couple of months, I’ve been discussing the importance of taking the census, and I encourage you to do the same so you can spread the word to fellow West Virginians. Click here to read a column I wrote about this.

How Can We Help?

Whether you need help with a casework issue or have a question about scheduling a meeting at one of my offices, my staff and I are ready to assist you. Learn more about the services we offer at www.capito.senate.gov.

You can also submit your feedback and share your stories with me by visiting my “Share Your Stories” webpage here: www.capito.senate.gov/ShareYourStories.

Social Media Recap

Join me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for regular updates and photos.

Sincerely,

Shelley Moore Capito

United States Senator