Hi there,

I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I certainly did! If you happened to turn your TV to FOX News on Thanksgiving evening, you might have seen me on Special Report with Bret Baier. We spoke about impeachment and my recent trip to the Middle East (more details on that trip below). Click here or the image below to watch the full interview.

Visiting Our Troops Overseas

Right before Thanksgiving, I traveled overseas to Afghanistan and Kuwait to learn more about our missions there and the hard work our service members are doing. I’m especially proud to have met members of the 863rd Military Police Unit from the West Virginia Army National Guard, based out of Glen Jean. Meeting with these men and women, as well as the other service members was such an honor, and I have the utmost gratitude and respect for their service and sacrifice. Click here for more details on the trip and keep scrolling for photo highlights.

After having the opportunity to once again visit this region of the world, I have a stronger understanding of the progress we’ve made when it comes to counter-terrorism efforts, as well as the potential national security threats that exist.

Check out this MetroNews story for more details on my trip.

Helping New Parents

On Wednesday, I joined a bipartisan bicameral group in introducing the Advancing Support for Working Families Act, which would provide resources to pay for leave and cover the cost of daycare, baby supplies, and other expenses after birth or adoption of a new child. Click here or the image below to watch our press conference on the legislation.


The bill allows families the option to advance up to $5,000 of their recently-doubled Child Tax Credit in the first year of a child’s life or the first year a family adopts a child.

The bill does not raise taxes or mandate businesses.


This is the only bipartisan, bicameral paid family leave bill on the market. Ivanka Trump, who has been the Trump administration’s tireless advocate on this issue, has signaled her support of the legislation.

Learn more with this Local DVM story. 

Helping Our Veterans 

My bipartisan bill with Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.) to expand veterans’ apprenticeship opportunities passed unanimously on Thursday! The Support for Veterans in Effective Apprenticeships Act would increase veterans’ access to financial assistance they can use in connection with an apprenticeship program.

The bipartisan bill would take three commonsense steps to expand opportunities for veterans to use financial assistance in connection with a quality apprenticeship program:

1. New apprenticeship programs applying to register through the Department of Labor (DoL) would need to provide a written assurance that they are aware of GI Bill assistance and committed to taking the steps to enable veteran apprentices to access these benefits.
   
   
2. Apprenticeships would need to factor the skills, training, and experiences gained through military service into where the veteran is placed in the program, which could mean a more advanced placement with higher apprentice wages.
   
   
3. DoL would need to notify the VA of newly registered apprenticeship programs. This would enable the VA to be more proactive in outreach to registered programs not yet approved for GI Bill benefits.
   
   

The Left Behind Agenda 

On Thursday, I spoke to Stuart Varney, host of Varney and Co. on FOX Business, about the Homeland Security Appropriations funding bill, impeachment, and legislative items being ignored, such as USMCA. Watch our interview here or by clicking on the image below:



In Case You Missed It 

Click through the links below to learn more about other recent highlights and Senate efforts:

• Nominated 32 students for admission to U.S. Service Academies.
• Introduced bill to provide affordable housing for volunteer firefighters.
• Introduced WV Ag Commissioner Kent Leonhardt at Senate Hearing.
• Voted to confirm Dan Brouillette for Secretary of Energy.
• Bill to permanently renew federal funding for HBCUs passes Senate.

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