Friends,

Well, it certainly has been a busy week in Washington. From continuing the appropriations process to introducing a bill that could help boost tourism in our state, there’s a lot to report! 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!

Wild and Wonderful West Virginia

The New River Gorge is a special part of West Virginia and a real source of pride for our state. Whether it’s cheering on the BASE jumpers at Bridge Day, experiencing the thrill of world-class white water rafting, catching a glimpse into our state’s history and the unique geology of Appalachia, or taking in the beautiful panoramic views, the New River Gorge provides unlimited opportunities for thousands of visitors each year. Earlier this week, Senator Manchin and I introduced a bill that will help promote the beauty and historical significance of the New River Gorge by redesignating the National River to a National Park and Preserve.

This redesignation will shine a new, brighter light on the New River Gorge and its many offeringsincluding hunting and fishingto help drive tourism and spur the local and regional economy. Click here or the image below to learn more about this bill and what it means for our state.

Appropriations Update

This week, we continued working in the Appropriations Committee to consider several important government funding measures. A few days ago, the committee took action to provide resources that will keep our nation secure, our citizens safe, our economy thriving, and our environment protected. The bills we consideredand ultimately passed out of committee were:

Homeland Security Appropriations bill.
Interior and Environment Appropriations bill.
State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill.
Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill.

Not only were we able to pass all of these bills out of committee, but they include a lot of important funding for agencies and programs that have benefited our state and so many West Virginiansfrom the Katherine Johnson IV&V Center, NOAA in Fairmont, CJIS in Clarksburg, the Leetown Science Center or our three Coast Guard facilities in the Eastern Panhandle, to increased resources we dedicate to fighting opioids, monitoring PFAS contamination, improving cybersecurity, and securing our border.

As a leader on this committee, I made sure that West Virginians’ best interests were always front and center; and I was proud that all of these measures reflect that. Click here to learn more.

Nominating the Next Generation of Leaders

As a U.S. senator, I have the great privilege of nominating young West Virginians for entry into our military academies. This afternoon, I hosted my fourth and final Academy Day event of the fall. I hope many of you were able to attend one of these, but if not, you can still learn more about this terrific opportunity on my website. My nomination application is available online here and is due on October 15, 2019, so check out the nominations webpage to learn more and feel free to reach out to my office if you have any questions along the way.

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:

$32,559,963 for affordable housing for low-income families.
$6,145,690 for health services in West Virginia.
$5,839,934 for economic investments across the state.
$1,056,000 for job training programs in West Virginia.

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