U.S. Senator Shelly Moore Capito visits Constellium facility

Capito is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the committee which appropriates the defense budget. Capito said because of her position within the committee she is able to impact the predictability of the defense budget, which in turn assists Constellium in numerous phases of production.

“Constellium does a lot of work with aeronautics as well as department of defense,” she added. “It’s important as an appropriator to see results of approriations for new vehicles as well as airplanes. The appropriations of aluminum made here in West Virginia.

Capito continued by saying “that rolled aluminum made here in West Virginia is going to the underside of tanks and other defense weapons. The aluminum going out of here is a part of the next generation of American weapons and armored vehicles. It’s lighter and it’s stronger. It’s better protection for the military.”

Constellium is largest employer in Jackson County with more than 1,100 employees. Capito said the plant has been modernized but may receive further modernization in the future.

According to its website, constellium.com, the Ravenswood plant is housed in 62 acres of production facilities on a 514 acre site. Constellium’s world headquarters is located in the Netherlands.

Capito said one of the topics discussed during the day with Constellium officials was tariffs and “how in regard to President Donald Trump’s tariffs initiative and how it impacts the workers of Constellium.”

Capito said she “supports the president in that we want fair and even trade but I would like to see him target that toward the countries, principally China, which is causing us the biggest heartburn. You can see the president modifying his original thoughts with exempting Canada, Mexico and the European Union. We are working with Constellium because important we get that product.”

Shortly after the tour, Capito privately spoke with company officials and employees and said “we covered a whole gamut of issues; health care, drug problems, use of emergency rooms, tariffs, work force development, ‘why can’t I use my degree that I have for the job I have,’ she said. There were other problems discussed, some which could affect workers and neighbors around them.

The drug issue is on a lot of people’s minds,’ she said. “In a different way of looking at it, it’s us having empathy for the people who are addicted but are we really solving the problem here and what is going to solve it.”

Capito also viewed the surrounding career and technical schools as a source of available workers in the future for Constellium. “The work force development, the hands on employee is as important or more important towards development,” she said. “You can see the importance of career and technical schools here in Jackson County and in Ohio. But also apprenticeships can help train the next generation of advanced manufacturing, which is what you see here.”

What Capito is looking toward is “for the most part West Virginians want to be able to do for themselves,” she said. “I think West Virginians want, by and large, is for government to only come when called. I believe we can create an environment where Constellium can grow, small business can grow. We (the government) don’t come right in and tell you how to grow things and what to do, but I think we can provide the environment, taxes and regulations and other things where we can grow and create more jobs.”