West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito believes that today's challenges demand bipartisan solutions. She supports commonsense policies that promote economic growth, unleash energy potential, lift up working families, and build a better West Virginia for the next generation.
From growing up in Glen Dale in the Northern Panhandle, to representing the 2nd Congressional District from the Ohio River up to the Eastern Panhandle, to raising her family in Charleston, Shelley knows the ins and outs of every region of the state. Early in life, Shelley saw how her father, Governor Arch Moore Jr., instituted changes to improve West Virginia—building up not only infrastructure and the economy but also families and state pride. It’s that mindset that inspires her work today.
As ranking member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Capito plays a direct role in providing our country with the resources it needs to stay safe and vigilant. The subcommittee funds the entire Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including Customs and Border Protection (CBP)—which has a training facility in Harpers Ferry—Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as well as the U.S. Coast Guard, which has several facilities in the Eastern Panhandle.
Senator Capito has visited the southern border several times and believes a border wall system is crucially important, not only to deter and stop illegal immigration, but also to help keep deadly drugs out of our country and out of West Virginia. She has worked closely with the men and women on the ground to best fund their needs, including physical barriers, technology at ports of entry, and staffing.
Through her leadership, Senator Capito has been able to fund the partnership between Marshall University and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the investigative arm of ICE, to combat the opioid crisis.
In a post 9/11 world, Senator Capito believes aggressors like Iran and Russia must be dealt with firmly, and we should staunchly support our strongest ally in the Middle East, Israel. She has visited the region several times, most recently Afghanistan where she learned more about our country’s critical missions to contain ISIS and support our allies. She also visited Germany and Poland in March 2022 to meet with U.S. military leaders, NGOs, and Ukrainian refugees.
As the daughter of a decorated World War II veteran, Senator Capito values the sacrifices made by those who honorably serve our nation. She is dedicated to ensuring that our servicemen and women, veterans, and their families are provided with the support and benefits they deserve. Throughout her time in Congress, Senator Capito has advocated for the reforms necessary to improve access and quality of care for veterans.
As the injuries from war change and a new generation of veterans re-enter civilian life, it is crucial that Congress work with the VA to provide all the resources necessary to ensure a smooth transition for our veterans. This includes continually modernizing efforts in job training and opportunities, mental health services, housing assistance and educational benefits.
Senator Capito has grave concerns about the lack of mental health services within the VA. While our veterans are provided with better technology and protection in the face of war, the traumatic effects can be detrimental for returning veterans and their families. Senator Capito was a proud cosponsor of The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, which established a pilot-program to recruit more mental health professionals to the VA, created a website with better access to resources and materials for assistance, and required a third party evaluation of the effectiveness of suicide prevention programs within the VA. Senator Capito believes that there is still more to be done to prevent veteran suicides and has consistently supported legislation to build upon Clay Hunt and ensure that veterans receive the proper support that they need.
Senator Capito successfully worked to include her legislation, the Andrew White Veterans Community Care Opioid Safety Act in to the VA MISSION Act, legislation that made some of the largest reforms to the VA health care system in history. This measure, which was named after West Virginian Andrew White, a Marine who was overprescribed a strong antipsychotic drug after returning home from Iraq and died tragically in his sleep at the age of 23, strengthens opioid therapy safety and pain care through VA community care programs. This legislation expands upon the Jason Simcakoski Memorial and Promise Act, which Senators Capito cosponsored, that strengthened the VA’s opioid prescribing guidelines, put in place stronger oversight and accountability, and provided safer and more effective pain management services for our nation’s veterans.
Senator Capito believes that it is important to look into unconventional methods to addressing the mental health of veterans. As a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Senator Capito was able to create an Agritherapy pilot program at the Woody Williams VAMC in Huntington. Due to the success of the pilot program, it was renewed and serves as a shining example for VA facilities across the country.
As a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Senator Capito works to represent West Virginia veterans and their needs and will continue to fight for reforms that improve the treatment of veterans and their families.
Broadband is absolutely critical for developing businesses, improving education and sharing ideas, which is why one of Senator Capito’s earliest and top priorities continues to be better connecting the state of West Virginia.
Senator Capito believes it is imperative to bring new and innovative opportunities to West Virginia. In the ever-evolving global economy, our ability to compete depends on our capacity to adapt. Senator Capito is committed to bringing high-speed broadband to West Virginia and ensuring that West Virginia has the necessary tools to succeed.
In May 2015, Senator Capito introduced her Capito Connect plan—one of her first initiatives as a United States Senator— a roadmap for bringing affordable, high-speed internet access to homes, businesses, and classrooms in West Virginia. The Capito Connect plan outlines three steps for achieving this goal:
By listening to our communities, we can build a West Virginia-specific plan for achieving widespread broadband that meets the unique demands of our state.
Broadband access will be the result of partnerships between private, local, state, and federal agencies and organizations. Fostering collaboration will help eliminate duplicate and outdated programs so that West Virginia can efficiently deliver broadband services to communities.
Broadband should be easily available and affordable for all West Virginians. This will require creative solutions to accommodate broadband users across all sectors, including schools, businesses, and private citizens. Through innovative thinking and implementation, West Virginia will achieve the connectivity that will help boost our economy.
Through Senator Capito’s Capito Connect plan, she’s made significant headway in all of these areas—particularly when it comes to Rural America—by focusing on two main strategies.
The first is making West Virginians aware of the many opportunities and resources available to better connect their communities. The second is by securing additional resources at the federal level to support broadband deployment and improvement programs. By connecting those in need with available resources and expanding the opportunities available, we are making a difference.
In 2022, following the signing into law of the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which will provide hundreds of millions of dollars for broadband deployment in West Virginia, Senator Capito launched a "Share Your Stories" initiative to empower West Virginians to detail their experiences with internet access in their communities.
More than a thousand residents have written in so far, and Senator Capito continues to hear from West Virginians to ensure funding is going to the places that need it most.
As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Senator Capito continues to be a leader in raising awareness, creating dialogue, securing funding, and developing new and innovative solutions to address West Virginia’s connectivity needs.
Located in the heart of Appalachia, West Virginia is a transportation hub of the Mid-Atlantic. West Virginians rely heavily on roads, bridges, and highways to fuel our economy, access hard to reach areas in our state, get to and from work and school, and transport necessary goods and services.
As the ranking member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, Senator Capito has worked extensively to better America’s federal roadways. Her roles on both the EPW and Appropriations Committees have allowed Senator Capito to look out for West Virginia roads, particularly Route 2 and Corridor H.
Senator Capito helped negotiate and craft the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was signed into law in November 2021 and provides record investments to upgrade roads and bridges, address aging water and wastewater systems, support our airports and ports, and connect rural America with broadband infrastructure in order to finally close the digital divide.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is built around two critical infrastructure bills crafted by the EPW Committee - the Surface Transportation and Reauthorization Act of 2021 (STRA), which passed the committee unanimously, as well as the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021 (DWWIA 2021), which passed the EPW Committee unanimously and the Senate 89-2. Senator Capito began negotiations with President Biden in early 2021, which led to the final bipartisan infrastructure package that ultimately was signed into law. She also served as the Republican floor manager during the debate process on the Senate floor.
Previously, chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee within EPW, Senator Capito served as one of the four chief negotiators of America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act, bipartisan legislation to rebuild and support America’s surface transportation system. She included provisions dedicating funding for bridges, which are often neglected in favor of large highways. Senator Capito also sponsored the Advancing Infrastructure Development (AID) in Appalachia Act, which would accelerate completion of the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS), which was first authorized more than 50 years ago to better integrate Appalachia with neighboring regions and support economic development.
Water and wastewater infrastructure is also critically important to West Virginia, particularly in the southern part of the state. Senator Capito has worked across the aisle to write legislation that helps address wastewater challenges faced by rural communities, such as the Decentralized Wastewater Grant Act. Senator Capito also sponsored the Innovative Water Workforce Development Act, which established a competitive grant program to help develop the next generation of water utility workers. As a leader on the EPW and Appropriations Committees, she will continue to advance proposals that provide West Virginians with safe, dependable water and wastewater services.
As the ranking member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, Senator Capito is working every day at the intersection of energy, environment, and the economy. By effectively making use of our natural resources in West Virginia and across our nation, we can create and secure jobs, enhance our national security, and make America less reliant on foreign energy sources. Senator Capito believes in an all-of-the-above energy policy focused on reliably meeting consumer demand, creating quality jobs, and being responsible stewards of the environment through responsible regulation.
After working with President Trump to roll back several of the untenable regulations put forth during the Obama administration’s War on Coal that has reemerged under President Biden, Senator Capito continues to support the West Virginia coal industry, particularly supporting investments in new markets for coal, including carbon manufacturing and extracting rare earth elements essential to our high tech and defense sectors.
West Virginia is also blessed with vast reserves of natural gas, being situated atop the Marcellus and Utica shales. Senator Capito is committed to seeing the buildout of the complete value chain for natural gas and petrochemical manufacturing in the state, particularly in the Northern Panhandle. Private sector and government studies predict the development of a regional market for natural gas liquids in Appalachia would generate billions of dollars in capital investment, create tens of thousands of jobs, and revitalize the region’s manufacturing and chemicals industries, with enough scale to meet growing domestic and international demand for these products.
Senator Capito is a leader in Congress on carbon capture technology development, working in a bipartisan fashion to enact the FUTURE Act — which expanded and improved the 45Q carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) tax credit — and crafting the USE IT Act to reduce regulatory barriers to deployment of CCUS technology, which is essential to meeting environmental goals while also preserving and creating jobs.
Once it was recognized that “forever chemicals” known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminated communities in West Virginia, Senator Capito aggressively pushed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate PFAS contaminant levels in drinking water and prevent future emissions of the chemicals, including introducing several pieces of bipartisan legislation. The EPA announced their plan to implement via regulation Senator Capito’s PFAS drinking water standard legislation in February 2020.
Senator Capito wants West Virginia to remain “wild and wonderful.” As a lover of the outdoors and an appropriator, Senator Capito has continually funded the Land and Wildlife Conservation Fund (LWCF). Additionally, she has advocated for permanent authorization of LWCF with a dedicated funding stream. Senator Capito also supports the Restore Our Parks Act, legislation that would address the National Park Service’s $12 billion maintenance backlog. Improving the quality of experiences on public lands while meeting conservation goals are key to growing West Virginia’s outdoor recreation and tourism economy, while preserving our natural beauty and sportsmen’s heritage for future generations. Her legislation to designate New River Gorge as a national park and preserve was signed into law in 2020, making West Virginia home to the nation's newest, 63rd national park and 20th national preserve.
For the past several years, West Virginia has had the highest number of opioid-related overdose deaths in the nation. This crisis has ravaged the state, destroying thousands of families.
Soon after joining the Senate, Senator Capito convened a successful drug prevention summit in Martinsburg, West Virginia to bring more national attention to this very serious problem. The takeaway was clear: there is a desperate need for substance abuse treatment facilities in the state. The lack of treatment options is not only a problem for those suffering from addiction. It impacts businesses seeking to hire new workers and help employees in need of treatment, and it hurts homeowners concerned with declining neighborhoods and home values
In addition to improving drug addiction treatment, Senator Capito understands the need to take steps aimed at cutting off the drug supply chain. She joined her colleagues in introducing the STOP Act to prevent the shipment of synthetic opioids – like fentanyl – into the United States through the international mail system and was proud to see it signed into law by President Trump in 2018.
As ranking member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Capito has fiercely advocated for strong border security, including a wall, advanced technology at ports of entry, and increased funding to help stop the flow of deadly drugs coming across the southern border.
Senator Capito has also been an advocate for some of the youngest victims of the opioid epidemic. She introduced the CRIB Act to ensure care for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome in residential pediatric recovery centers – like Lily’s Place in Huntington, West Virginia – and the RISE from Trauma Act to increase resources for communities to support children who have experienced trauma.
Senator Capito played an influential role in crafting the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, the largest comprehensive addiction response legislation ever. West Virginia has served as ground zero for opioid recovery efforts. Programs and techniques—such as Quick Response Teams (QRTs), developed and proven to work in West Virginia—were used as a model for other parts of the country. President Trump signed the SUPPORT Act into law in 2019.
Recently, in addition to advocating for and securing funding to increase access to treatment and recovery options through her role on the Appropriations Committee, Senator Capito authored the NO PAIN Act, which aims to address barriers to non-opioid pain management for those enrolled in Medicare.
She also cosponsored the Family Support Services for Addiction Act that would provide $25 million in grant funding to help nonprofits and community organizations provide support services to families with loved ones seeking addiction treatment.
Senator Capito also authored the Improving Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women Act, which would help fund treatment programs for pregnant and postpartum women.
In the FY22 appropriations bill that was signed into law, Senator Capito secured funding targeted for specific projects and programs aimed at assisting law enforcement and getting those struggling with addiction the help they need.
Senator Capito believes every West Virginian and American deserve access to affordable, quality health care. She is a long-time advocate for rural health care initiatives and has consistently championed funding for community health centers, a vital source of primary care in communities across West Virginia.
Senator Capito is a passionate supporter of Alzheimer’s research. This issue is particularly important to the senator as both her parents battled with the disease in their later years. Senator Capito has helped introduce several pieces of Alzheimer’s legislation, including the Concentrating on High-Value Alzheimer’s Needs to Get to an End (CHANGE) Act, the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act, and Younger-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Act to help the approximately 200,000 Americans suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Senator Capito has worked to expand research and funding for childhood cancers, helping doctors better diagnose and treat younger patients. In June 2018, President Trump signed into law Senator Capito’s Childhood Cancer STAR Act.
Senator Capito is also fighting to lower prescription drug prices by introducing the bipartisan Improving Transparency and Accuracy in Medicare Part D Drug Spending Act. The bill would prohibit Medicare Part D plan sponsors and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from retroactively reducing payments on accurate reimbursement claims submitted by pharmacies. Doing so would help ensure community pharmacies are able to continue to serve Medicare beneficiaries and combat the growing financial uncertainties these small businesses are facing.
As a member of the Health and Human Services, Labor, and Education Appropriations subcommittee, Senator Capito has made funding for medical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) a key priority.
Senator Capito is committed to making sure that West Virginians have the opportunity to receive high-quality education from pre-school through college. She understands that education is a key to success and a vital part of maintaining strong communities and attracting employers to West Virginia.
As West Virginia’s first female United States Senator, she started the West Virginia Girls Rise Up! program. The purpose of the initiative is to empower young women through education, physical fitness, and self-confidence. Over the past several years, Senator Capito has met with students across the state and has also involved other female including Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, NASA Astronaut Peggy Whitson, FOX News Anchor Shannon Bream, and Huntington Fire Chief Jan Rader.
Senator Capito has fought to secure federal funding through Child Care and Development Block Grants that benefit organizations that are important to rural communities—like Head Start—and has co-sponsored and voted for legislation to continue the Secure Rural Schools program that provides critical resources for public education in counties with large amounts of federally owned land. Senator Capito introduced the Building Blocks of STEM Act, which increases funding for early childhood education and seeks to enhance the learning and teaching of STEM by addressing the immediate challenges that are facing PreK-12 STEM education. The bill was signed into law by President Trump in 2019.
Senator Capito is also a staunch advocate for the TRIO programs which are designed to ensure underserved students have equal access to a college education and the support they need to prepare for, succeed in, and graduate. Additionally, she helped pass the FUTURE Act that increases funding for historically black colleges and universities in West Virginia.
Senator Capito also understands the importance of trade schools and non-traditional educational paths. As an original co-sponsor of the Creating Quality Technical Educators Act, Senator Capito remains dedicated to fostering a proactive approach to recruit and train top notch technical educators – better preparing students with the skills they need to enter the work force after school.
To help graduates pay for their higher education, Senator Capito introduced the Employer Participation in Repayment Act This legislation would lay the groundwork for employers to assist their employees’ in repaying their student loan debt. Senator Capito is always looking for innovative ways to help companies retain talented workers, while giving recent graduates needed relief and stability when entering the work force.
Supporting West Virginia’s Small Businesses
In West Virginia, 95 percent of our businesses are small businesses. These companies are truly the backbone of the state’s local economy, and they employ half of our private-sector workforce.
Senator Capito has championed small businesses as the creators of American jobs. She understands American-made goods and services stimulate our economy and encourage further job growth throughout West Virginia. That’s why Senator Capito has always advocated for a low-tax, pro-growth economic policy to encourage small business employment and expansion. She will continue to support policies that will spur entrepreneurship, growth and American innovation.
Since Senator Capito has been in the Senate, West Virginia has experienced significant economic growth. The state is attracting new businesses, creating an environment for existing ones to expand, and West Virginia’s unemployment rates have decreased overall.
Improvement in the state can be attributed to many things, such as, the reforming of our outdated tax code and rolling back burdensome regulations, as well as other pro-growth measures. All of these—and others—have proven to be a winning combination for workers, small businesses, and economic growth, and they have encouraged an environment that’s putting West Virginia on a path to a brighter future.
Tax Reform and Opportunity Zones
Senator Capito co-sponsored the tax reform bill, which President Trump signed into law in 2017. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act includes many provisions that are good for West Virginia businesses, communities, and families. One of these measures known as, Opportunity Zones, will help spur growth in economically distressed areas. Senator Capito was an early supporter of this measure and believes it can be a game change in communities throughout the state.
Under the provision, investors can defer capital gains taxes by investing in “Opportunity Funds.” These funds in turn must invest in distressed census tracts that are designated by governors in each state as “Opportunity Zones.” These investments will provide capital to help grow new businesses and create jobs in the parts of our country that need them the most. Twenty-nine West Virginia counties have one or more Opportunity Zones. These communities are primed for investment from local, regional, and national investors seeking to invest in economic revitalization projects. Opportunity Zones are also prioritized for over one hundred federal grant and loan programs ranging from funding for small businesses and entrepreneurs to community development to the continued recovery from the opioid epidemic.
Driving Funding to West Virginia to Support Economic Growth
As West Virginia looks to grow economically, Senator Capito believes a key partner will continue to be the Economic Development Administration (EDA). This federal agency makes targeted investments in local communities and partners with leaders on the ground. Before Senator Capito was elected to the United States Senate, the EDA did not play an active role in West Virginia. Before Senator Capito came to the Senate, in 2013 and 2014, the state received a total of $200,000 from EDA outside of normal planning grants. This funding was also only used for technical assistance.
After only two months into the job as U.S. Senator, Senator Capito called a meeting with the then-head of EDA to discuss investments in West Virginia, and encourage them to take a hard look at increasing its presence in the state.
Since Senator Capito’s meeting in 2015, EDA has begun prioritizing West Virginia investments and has hired a representative solely focused on West Virginia. Since this change, the state has seen the development of a pipeline of projects that have and will continue to lead to job retention and creation across West Virginia. Since 2015, EDA has invested nearly $40 million in West Virginia. This is over a 400 percent increase in funding since our offices collaborated. As of These investments will impact nearly every county in the state, and they will create over thousands of jobs, while retaining many more. The investments have funded infrastructure improvements, workforce training programs, manufacturing programs, manufacturing expansions, and efforts that support entrepreneurs.
Another partnership that has led to significant funding to benefit economic development is the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). Senator Capito has worked closely with the ARC to direct funding to West Virginia. In 2019, Senator Capito hosted ARC Federal Co-Chairman Tim Thomas to visit several sites in West Virginia that have benefited from ARC funds.
Connecting Businesses
As part of her Capito Connect plan, Senator Capito will ensure that our small businesses have the necessary tools to succeed and expand, including access to high-speed broadband. Broadband is critical to develop new businesses and retain prosperous small businesses that have been built in West Virginia. Click here for more details on Senator Capito’s efforts to improve connectivity across the state.
As the daughter of a decorated World War II veteran, Senator Capito values the sacrifices made by those who honorably serve our nation. She is dedicated to ensuring that our servicemen and women, veterans and their families are provided with the support and benefits they deserve.
Throughout her time in Congress, Senator Capito has advocated for the reforms necessary to improve access and quality of care for veterans. Senator Capito cosponsored the Veterans Access to Community Care Act of 2015, which broadens veteran access to private medical providers by revising the 40-mile rule within The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act. This change would take into account the actual driving distance for veterans to get to a VA Medical Center, rather than the VA’s current “as the crow flies” calculation.
Previously, as a member of the House of Representatives, then Congresswoman Capito supported the passage of The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act, which took necessary steps to provide veterans greater access to private care and demanded accountability for the lack of effective delivery of care.
As the injuries from war change and a new generation of veterans re-enter civilian life, it is crucial that Congress work with the VA to provide all the resources necessary to ensure a smooth transition for our veterans. This includes continually modernizing efforts in job training and opportunities, mental health services, housing assistance and educational benefits.
Senator Capito has grave concerns about the lack of mental health services within the VA. While our veterans are provided with better technology and protection in the face of war, the traumatic effects can be detrimental for returning veterans and their families. Senator Capito was a proud cosponsor of The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, which established a pilot-program to recruit more mental health professionals to the VA, created a website with better access to resources and materials for assistance, and required a third party evaluation of the effectiveness of suicide prevention programs within the VA. Senator Capito also introduced bipartisan legislation to reform the VA’s opioid prescribing practices.
As a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Senator Capito works to represent West Virginia veterans and their needs and will continue to fight for reforms that improve the treatment of veterans and their families.
We live in an era of constant threats to our national security. It is as important as ever that Congress provide the resources necessary to our military servicemen and women to accomplish the jobs that we ask them to do. Countries such as Iran seeking to inflame sectarian violence across the region have compounded the growing instability of weak and failed states such as Yemen. Senator Capito believes it is crucial that the United States stands against the forces of terrorism and defends the freedoms we hold dear.
Senator Capito has responded resolutely to these issues by supporting strong sanctions against Iran that resulted in negotiations. She is a staunch supporter of Israel and providing aid to strategic allies whose stability helps keep the United States safe.
Senator Capito believes Congress must work in a bipartisan way to ease the effects felt within the Department of Defense on military personnel and force readiness, while ensuring the strength and viability of the all-volunteer force.
As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and the Subcommittee for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Senator Capito has supported the appropriation of funds to assist not only our troops at home and abroad, but also specific initiatives that will help forces in West Virginia. Senator Capito is also a member of the Senate National Guard Caucus where she proudly represents over 6,000 National Guard servicemen and women in West Virginia.
Senator Capito will continue to work hard to make sure our military members receive the support and protection they need, our borders are secure and the United States remains vigilant in defending against threats to national security. As Congress debates the role of the United States in current and future conflicts, Senator Capito will always weigh the thoughts and concerns of West Virginians first.
Senator Capito has championed small businesses as the creators of American jobs. She understands American-made goods and services stimulate our economy and encourage further job growth throughout West Virginia. Senator Capito has always advocated for a low-tax, pro-growth economic policy to encourage small business employment and expansion. She will continue to support policies that will spur entrepreneurship, growth and American innovation.
The introduction and implementation of Obamacare harmed many small businesses and has resulted in forced layoffs for many companies. In response, Senator Capito cosponsored the American Job Protection Act, a bill that would protect employers from job-killing Obamacare policies by removing the federal mandate on employers to offer health insurance.
As part of her Capito Connect plan, Senator Capito will ensure that our small businesses have the necessary tools to succeed and expand, including access to high-speed broadband. Broadband is critical to develop new businesses and retain prosperous small businesses that have been built in West Virginia.
Senator Capito believes the federal government is spending too much. West Virginians work hard to live within their means, and Washington should be held to the same standard. Saddling future generations with burdensome debt is not responsible, and our country cannot afford to prolong its reckless deficit spending. Our government should operate more effectively and efficiently on behalf of American taxpayers.
During her time in Congress, Senator Capito has supported a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. She has consistently voted for appropriations measures that reduce federal expenditures. This year, Congress passed a joint budget resolution that balances the country’s budget in ten years without raising taxes. It funds a strong national defense, invests in our nation's transportation and energy infrastructure and promotes job growth.
According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the joint balanced budget will boost economic growth by $500 billion and create more than 1.3 million jobs over the next 10 years. Hard-working American families will feel the benefits, and West Virginians will see an increase of more than 7,300 jobs by 2025.
Passage of a Senate Budget resolution in March 2015 enabled the Appropriations Committee, of which Senator Capito is a member, ample time to debate and pass bills that fund specific programs. For the first time since 2009, the full committee approved all 12 appropriations bills in 2015.
Especially in light of the president’s proposed budget, which added $8.5 trillion to the national debt, Senator Capito supports balance, accountability and fiscal responsibility. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Capito has the ability to influence federal spending decisions in a powerful, direct way. Congress must make difficult decisions to eliminate waste and reduce our $18 trillion debt in order to reduce the burden on our children and grandchildren.
Education is the key to economic success. From pre-school through college, making sure that West Virginians have the opportunity to receive a high quality education is a vital part of maintaining strong communities and attracting employers to West Virginia.
Senator Capito believes that strong education standards are best set by parents, teachers and local leaders. That is why she supported the Every Child Achieves Act, which returns decisions about elementary and secondary education to states, local officials, teachers and parents.
As a member of the Senate Afterschool Caucus, Senator Capito has worked to make quality afterschool enrichment programs available to help further the education of children beyond the classroom. She also introduced the bipartisan After School for America's Children Act to reauthorize and improve community learning centers.
Senator Capito has co-sponsored and voted for legislation to continue the Secure Rural Schools program that provides critical resources for public education in counties with large amounts of federally owned land.
Senator Capito is strong supporter of job training programs, voting for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act that helped to align worker-training programs with career opportunities in local communities. She is also a member of the Senate Career and Technical Education Caucus where she will work to see that high school students have better opportunities to gain the skills necessary for 21st century jobs.
As a Member of the Congressional TRIO Caucus, Senator Capito has worked to help first-generation college students make the transition to higher education and complete their degrees.
To help graduates afford a higher education, she is a co-sponsor of the Repay Act to improve income-contingent student loan repayment options. To help graduates with private student loans that experience financial challenges, she helped to introduce the bipartisan Federal Adjustment in Reporting (FAIR) Student Credit Act that would allow a borrower who successfully rehabilitates a student loan one opportunity to have the default removed from their credit report.
Since being sworn in to the Senate, Senator Capito has actively led the fight against drugs in West Virginia. She is committed to bring more resources to the table to tackle the drug addiction epidemic that is crushing our communities.
West Virginia leads the nation in drug-related overdose deaths, and because it is such a small state, its small knit communities feel this pain more than most.
Far too many Americans have been affected by the loss of a family member or friend because of a drug overdose. Senator Capito believes a spectrum of solutions at the federal, state and local level are needed in order to combat this epidemic.
In April 2015, Senator Capito convened a successful drug prevention summit in Martinsburg, West Virginia to bring more national attention to this very serious problem. The takeaway was clear - there is a desperate need for substance abuse treatment facilities in the state. The lack of treatment options is not only a problem for those suffering from addiction. It impacts businesses seeking to hire new workers and help employees in need of treatment, and it hurts homeowners concerned with declining neighborhoods and home values.
In addition to improving drug addiction treatment, Senator Capito understands the need to take steps aimed at cutting off the drug supply chain. As a result, she introduced the bipartisan Stop Drugs at the Border Act of 2015 to combat increased heroin and methamphetamine trafficking along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Senator Capito has also been an advocate to protect our first responders, medical professionals and family members who are educated in administering overdose prevention drugs in emergency situations and cosponsored The Opioid Overdose Reduction Act of 2015.
Senator Capito recognizes that a problem of this magnitude will be challenging to tackle and is dedicated to meaningful, bipartisan action to protect our communities.