Friends,

It was great to be back home in West Virginia for so much of August, traveling to all corners of the state and meeting with folks like you. With Congress just wrapping up our first week back in session, there’s a lot of good news for West Virginia that I’m excited to update you on. All of the details are here in my weekly newsletter, so keep scrolling for more information. And click here or the image below to watch my weekly video message.

Be sure to forward this newsletter to a few friends to share the news!

Advocating for West Virginia Priorities

This week, we hit the ground running by kicking off the first round of markups of government funding bills for the year. I was really proud that so many of the items I advocated for were included in the legislation we considered this week, which will advance to the Senate floor soon. These bills have a lot of good things included in them, but a few West Virginia highlights include resources to:

• Provide for our national defense.
• Develop and study coal as a natural resource.
• Build on language I authored to support the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).
• Provide an increase in overall funding for the ARC to continue its work related to broadband deployment, economic development, and fighting the opioid epidemic.

Earlier this summer, I voted with my colleagues to pass the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019, which President Trump signed into law. That legislation enabled Congress to set appropriations funding levels over the next two years and made it possible for the Senate Appropriations Committee to consider the bills marked up this week. I look forward to marking up more of these bills and moving this process forward, and I will continue working to make sure additional funding measures reflect West Virginia’s priorities.

Happy Anniversary, Wheeling!

Wheeling celebrated a special day recently: its 250th anniversary. This week, I introduced a resolution that passed the Senate on Thursday commemorating the occasion. In so many ways, Wheeling represents the American Dream. From its founding by Ebenezer Zane to its current role as an important transportation hub, the community’s rich history is an influential part of West Virginia’s—and America’s—story. I was so proud to have introduced this resolution to honor Wheeling’s many contributions to our state and celebrate all those who have called it home. Click here or the image below to hear what I had to say about this on the Senate floor.

#DrugFreeWV Update

Earlier this year, I wrote to the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to encourage the designation of Fayette County as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), which would make the county eligible for additional federal resources to fight the opioid epidemic. This week, I received great news when ONDCP Director Jim Carroll called me to say that Fayette County would receive this critical designation.

While the drug epidemic is something that has devastated families and communities in West Virginia, this designation is a positive step forward in our fight. Fayette County will receive additional support and coordination from federal, state and local law enforcement officials as a result—bringing us closer to ending this terrible crisis. Learn more here.

Grant Updates

Making sure our communities have the resources they need is important to improving the lives of West Virginians and building a brighter future for our state. Whether it’s providing funding for transportation infrastructure or delivering resources to support education programs, my position on the Senate Appropriations Committee has empowered me to secure funds for important West Virginia priorities. This week, I was proud to announce several grants that will help communities and programs across the state. Learn more about each one below:

• $9,276,233 for various programs across WV to combat the opioid epidemic.
• $3,555,000 for water and wastewater infrastructure in two counties.
• $1,599,100 in community and economic development grants across the state.

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

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Sincerely,

Shelley Moore Capito
United States Senator