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.
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.