Following hard work as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and discussions with the committee and the corresponding federal agencies, U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., secured $250,950,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) measures for a variety of West Virginia projects, including several throughout the Eastern Panhandle.

These earmarks, which Capito authored after having consulted and worked with entities and organizations across the state, were included in the FY23 federal funding bill that passed on Dec. 22, 2022.

“As a member of the (Senate) Appropriations Committee, our task is to craft legislation that fully funds our government. This process can be a challenging one, but after negotiation and compromise, I am pleased that so many West Virginia priorities I have fought for since I came to the Senate were addressed,” Capito said in the official release.

“Most importantly, I was able to lend my voice to ensure support for priorities that are important to West Virginia. As such, this bill contains significant funding to support our national defense, academic research, efforts to combat the opioid crisis, important medical research for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and childhood cancer, fossil energy, economic development, broadband expansion and efforts to secure our border.”

In the Eastern Panhandle, some of the CDS projects for the FY23 Omnibus Spending Package include:

• $400,000 to the Charles Town Police Department technology upgrade

• $375,000 for the Charles Town Green Infrastructure for Stormwater Pollution Flooding Project

• $1,422,000 to Shepherd University for the Agricultural Innovation Center Small Business Incubator

• $3,000,000 for the Berkeley County Public Service Water District for Bunker Hill water mainline upgrade

• $20,000 for Shepherd University for curriculum development, including stipends

• $657,000 for Shepherd University for a teacher professional development program, including stipends

• $609,000 for Shepherd University for facilities and equipment

• $1,500,000 to the Martinsburg National Guard Readiness Center for planning and design

• $840,000 for Martinsburg downtown lighting improvements

• $725,000 for the Town of Paw Paw fire station rehabilitation

• $1,400,000 for the Charles Town Augustine Trail & Connectivity Project

“West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle continues to show promising signs of growth and economic development opportunities, and as such, several entities reached out to my office seeking federal support. I am pleased that many projects were able to meet the standards put forth by the committee and the various agencies who disperse these funds,” Capito said.

“Through the Congressionally Directed Spending process, I was able to secure resources for projects that upgrade the Berkeley County Public Service Water District, improve Keyser’s Potomac Valley Hospital and rehabilitate Paw Paw’s fire station — just to name a few. I will continue to be receptive to the changing needs of West Virginians in the region and fight for important projects and priorities that meet the necessary parameters to receive funding.”