Op-eds

Transportation infrastructure matters. It matters to our economy, our communities, our health and our safety.Our nation’s surface transportation system brings jobs and new opportunities, enables communities to grow, connects us to our friends and family, and joins all sectors of the economy to customers at home and abroad.That is why one of my top priorities as ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is to develop a bipartisan surface... Read More

We all know the history and we’ve heard the names in documentaries or read about them in the history books.Suffragists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, and so many others. Their deeds were certainly great, and the outcome, monumental.I’m constantly inspired by these women’s words and the images of their fight for equality in our democratic process.These suffragists and leaders paved the way for women to exercise the right to vote. This changed... Read More

The pandemic has hit West Virginia small businesses hard, hammering restaurants and coffee shops like The Black Dog Coffee Company in Shenandoah Junction. Concerned about continuing operations in the changing economic landscape, owners Jennifer and Brian Bircher received a financial lifeline from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).“The Payroll Protection Program (PPP), covering our payroll costs, has allowed us to use the revenue from our daily sales to pay local vendors who are... Read More

Improving West Virginia’s infrastructure is one of my top priorities.No project is more important to our state’s future than completing Corridor H. Once finished, that four-lane highway will link Interstate 79 with the Washington, D.C. area, creating tremendous opportunities for economic growth.Building a road in West Virginia is expensive and takes time, but the benefits to our state are well worth the costs. That is why I champion federal funding for Corridor H at every possible... Read More

Improving West Virginia’s infrastructure is one of my top priorities.When I was first elected to Congress, I joined the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and identified the construction of a four-lane U.S. Route 35 from Interstate 64 in Putnam County to the Ohio River in Mason County as my highest goal. That goal will soon become a reality.Today, I am joining West Virginia Secretary of Transportation Byrd White to examine progress on this vital link between the Kanawha... Read More

Our Constitution recognizes that every American should receive the equal protection of our laws.Police officers play a critical role in protecting our physical security and securing our civil rights. West Virginians know that the overwhelming majority of people in law enforcement – our city police officers, county sheriff’s deputies, state troopers, personnel at the Clarksburg FBI Center, and many others – take seriously their responsibility to serve and protect everyone... Read More

After months of battling COVID-19, there is no question that this virus has had a terrible impact on our communities. It has effected every part of our lives and the numbers show this.More than 113,000 of our fellow Americans have lost their lives due to this awful virus, including 88 West Virginians.  The official unemployment rate is about 13 percent nationally and over 15 percent in West Virginia.State and local officials across the country closed much of our economy in an effort to... Read More

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve seen so many people from all across this country stepping up in major ways. Especially right here in West Virginia.West Virginia is like one big small town. We help one another in times of need whether we know the person or not.I like to call this the “West Virginia spirit,” and there’s no question that this spirit has helped us through some difficult times. We saw this spirit in full swing during the aftermath of the 2016... Read More

It’s been a tough couple of months as our nation-and the entire world-deal with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.Many of us know someone who has been infected by the virus and some of us have lost loved ones as a result.We’ve become accustomed to the new norm of social distancing, teleworking, and communicating with friends and family using new and creative methods.Millions of Americans have tested positive for COVID and thousands have died. We mourn the loss of those lost and... Read More

In trying times, West Virginians always rise to the occasion. We are seeing this right now as communities across the Mountain State battle the spread of COVID-19. The most important work we can do in government is to act swiftly and deliver the life-saving resources that our health care heroes need to meet this challenge.Telehealth is a crucial tool in this battle against COVID-19. For years, the federal government has supported the buildout of high-speed Internet connections to brick-and-mortar... Read More

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has swept through our nation, and hit other countries around the world particularly hard.While West Virginia was the last state to report confirmed cases, we knew this day would come eventually, which is why Congress moved quickly to make sure states—including West Virginia—were prepared and equipped with the resources needed to meet this virus head-on.To date, Congress has responded to the coronavirus in three phases:  The Coronavirus... Read More

In West Virginia, communities and families have struggled with the drug epidemic far more than most other states. This is no secret.But, West Virginia has also made progress in addressing this crisis, developing real solutions on the ground that work, and ultimately serving as a model for others to follow as the nation grapples with this epidemic.Last week, we had the chance to see some of these solutions in action in Williamson. Not only are these innovative solutions working to help... Read More

When I came to the Senate, I promised West Virginians that I would take meaningful action on the issues that are important to our state.One way I’ve worked to deliver on this promise is through my position on the Appropriations Committee, where I’ve made sure West Virginia has a loud and strong voice when it comes to determining our nation’s spending priorities.At the end of last year, the Senate passed and President Trump signed into law several important Appropriations... Read More

When I’m home, West Virginians have made it clear to me time and time again that they would rather Congress focus on working on behalf of the American people on issues that really matter.I agree.Impeachment fatigue is looming on many of us.After months of circus-like hearings in the House of Representatives, the impeachment trial of President Donald J. Trump is finally here in the Senate. Impeachment is a serious issue that deserves the Senate’s undivided attention, and my... Read More

2019 marked a year of significant economic growth for West Virginia and we have the numbers to show for this improvement. We are attracting new businesses, creating an environment for existing ones to expand, and, as a result, West Virginia’s unemployment rate is decreasing overall.But, the good news doesn’t end here.Proctor & Gamble’s facility in Tabler Station is now up to 1,100 employees, including two co-located suppliers.Toyota announced earlier this year that it would... Read More

One of my first efforts as a U.S. senator was launching my Capito Connect initiative — a roadmap for bringing affordable, reliable, high-speed internet access to homes, businesses, and classrooms in West Virginia.Each year, we’re making significant strides, and this past year, we’ve made even more progress.After asking Facebook Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing for his commitment to partner with West Virginia on rural fiber deployment,... Read More

As West Virginia looks to grow economically, a key partner will continue to be the Economic Development Administration, also known as the EDA.This federal agency makes targeted investments in local communities and partners with leaders on the ground.But, this was not always the case.Before I was elected to the United States Senate, the EDA did not play an active role in West Virginia, which is odd when you consider that West Virginia has no shortage of economic development and infrastructure... Read More

Huntington knows all too well that West Virginia has struggled with the opioid crisis longer than most states. While that reality has been tough, it has also helped us become a leader in fighting back.West Virginia has become ground zero for recovery efforts. We’ve tried a lot of innovative things. Some have worked, and others we need to improve on. It’s these lessons and insights that enabled me to help shape groundbreaking legislation Congress passed and President Trump signed into... Read More

Since passing the tax cuts legislation, West Virginians are really seeing the benefits. I’ve heard from so many individuals, families, and small businesses in communities all across our state about the ways they’ve benefited from tax reform.But when we passed that legislation, it wasn’t just about the benefits. It was also about creating opportunities.One of the provisions in the tax cuts bill—a provision I was very proud to co-sponsor—created something called... Read More

Health care is a subject that remains front and center in so many of our national conversations and debates. It’s a leading talking point among 2020 presidential candidates. It continues to poll as a top concern among the American public. And it’s something I hear about regularly from constituents back home in West Virginia. Much of the talk related to health care issues has to do with flashier or more controversial topics such as "Medicare for All" or prescription drug prices,... Read More