Dear West Virginian,

As the holiday season approaches, I’ve been thinking a lot about our troops overseas and their families. Being away from family is always difficult, particularly during the holidays. This week, I spoke on the Senate floor to express my gratitude for our military servicemembers. Please keep them in your prayers this season.

Get Tested Before Thanksgiving

Be smart this holiday season! Consider getting your flu shot and getting tested for COVID-19 before Thanksgiving, especially if you’re traveling. Free testing is happening across the state almost daily. Click here to find a testing location near you.

If you’re feeling uneasy about Thanksgiving, especially if you have older or more vulnerable family members in your home, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has released guidelines to keep your Thanksgiving holiday safer. Check out these tips and in the meantime, continue to wear a mask, wash your hands, and socially distance.

Responding to Clarksburg VA Scandal

After the horrifying murders at the Clarksburg VA Medical Center, I—along with my colleagues in the West Virginia congressional delegation—have been working to institute better oversight and security measures.

This week, the House passed the Improving Safety and Security for Veterans Act of 2019, legislation Senator Joe Manchin and I introduced and helped pass in the Senate. The bipartisan legislation would help improve transparency by requiring the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to submit detailed reports on patient safety and quality of care at VAMCs in light of the recent deaths of veterans at the Clarksburg VAMC. The bill now heads to President Trump’s desk for his signature.

Click here to learn more about how this bill aims to help ensure our veterans are protected and safely cared for while in VA hands.

Interns Wanted!

Do you know a student looking for a spring internship? Is your child or grandchild interested in public service? Passionate about policy issues? Encourage them to check out my internship program!

My Washington office is currently accepting applications for the spring semester. Applications are due December 4. More information is available here.

Additional COVID-19 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.

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