Op-eds

Without question, small businesses are a major economic driver and source of jobs in our economy.They are the entrepreneurs and the risk-takers. And their success makes a big difference in our communities and in our lives. These local businesses create opportunity for so many.In fact, more than 95 percent of West Virginia businesses are small businesses, and they employ half of West Virginia’s private-sector workforce.Today, I am bringing together a roundtable to hear directly from... Read More

According to a new report from the Economic Innovation Group, more than one third of West Virginians live in distressed communities.After onerous regulations targeted West Virginia for nearly a decade, it’s no surprise that many are out of work and our local communities are struggling.Between 2011 and 2015, these communities lost jobs and businesses shuttered while growth expanded elsewhere across the nation. This disconnect has left many West Virginians behind.As our state looks to grow... Read More

Every day we hear upsetting stories about the tragic deaths and painful struggles of individuals dealing with addiction.Some of the most heartbreaking stories are those about infants who are exposed to opioids before birth.As opioid use has increased, more and more pregnant women are prone to addiction. Neonatal abstinence syndrome, or NAS, is a withdrawal condition in babies who are exposed to opioids and other substances during pregnancy.It's yet another tragic outcome of the opioid epidemic... Read More

Every day we hear upsetting stories about the tragic deaths and painful struggles of individuals dealing with addiction.Some of the most heartbreaking stories are those about infants who are exposed to opioids before birth.As opioid use has increased, more and more pregnant women are prone to addiction. Neonatal abstinence syndrome, or NAS, is a withdrawal condition in babies who are exposed to opioids and other substances during pregnancy.It's yet another tragic outcome of the opioid epidemic... Read More

West Virginia’s economy is showing signs of progress and there is reason to be optimistic about our state’s future.Recent economic numbers demonstrate this positive news. In the first quarter of 2017, West Virginia’s GDP grew by 3 percent, the second fastest growth of any state in the nation. While one quarter of growth is not a trend, it does demonstrate the potential for a strong economic recovery.Still, there is much more we need to do in Washington and across West Virginia... Read More

The fate of rural America is the focus of much national attention today. Yet, many across West Virginia have been feeling the very real effects of this debate for some time. Our communities have been hard hit by job loss and decline, creating a major drag on the state’s economy and our quality of life. One of my top priorities has been to promote policies that spur new investment and boost economic growth. Broadband access can provide West Virginians with opportunities that lead to new... Read More

Few individuals over the last century have impacted the American legal discourse as profoundly as the late Justice Antonin Scalia. In the wake of his untimely passing last February, this lion of the law left behind a legacy of faithfully applying the law and upholding the principles enshrined by the Founders in our Constitution. Filling the vacancy of such a consequential figure amplifies the critical responsibility of the United States Senate of confirming his replacement; a decision informed... Read More

Health and wellness are often top of mind as a New Year rolls around. We resolve to eat better and exercise more often after a holiday season full of indulgence. This year, Congress is poised to help improve the health of nearly every American family, including many in West Virginia. Earlier this month, the 21st Century Cures Act, or Cures, was signed into law and several West Virginians were there, symbolizing the numerous benefits this legislation will bring to our state. This bipartisan law... Read More

It’s no secret that West Virginia is undergoing an economic transition. Our coal communities have lost thousands of jobs due to increased competition and over regulation. Yet, coal is and must remain a part of our energy mix to meet the demands of powering the nation. While we continue to fight for critical energy jobs, we must also look for opportunities to diversify and grow the state’s economy. Doing so will get more West Virginians back to work, attract talented new professionals... Read More

While the energy sector has served as a powerful engine of growth here in West Virginia since the Industrial Revolution, a new economic driver has made its way to the Mountain State: the internet. Not only has the internet changed the way West Virginians live and work, but it also has provided an opportunity for small businesses and consumers to engage in global commerce. Across the state, West Virginia businesses increasingly rely on the internet to market their products, and attract, retain,... Read More

When United States Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz visited West Virginia on Monday, he got a first-hand look at our state’s role in America’s energy revolution. The United States is quickly becoming a dominant player in global energy production. In 2013, the United States surpassed Russia and Saudi Arabia as the leading oil and gas producer in the world. By exporting liquefied natural gas to our allies abroad, we can continue to grow jobs in energy producing states. West Virginia is in... Read More

It is not every day that a U.S. senator and a commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) get to stand 851 feet above West Virginia’s New River. But last week, we joined together and experienced the thrill of walking across the New River Gorge Bridge — an attraction that brings thousands of visitors to West Virginia each year to take in one of our nation’s most cherished natural treasures. The bridge also served as a physical reminder of the digital divide in... Read More

This week, the Senate passed a bipartisan measure to address the drug epidemic that is crushing communities across America. The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) takes a broad step forward in the national response to the drug crisis. This legislation, which will soon be signed into law by the president, contains several provisions that will help combat West Virginia's drug epidemic. It expands prevention and education efforts, and promotes resources for treatment and recovery.It... Read More

Regulatory reform has been a widely discussed solution in Washington to cut bureaucratic red tape and boost our economy. In a Republican-led Congress, we achieved it. After years of hard work and negotiations, the passage of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act marks the first time in more than a quarter of a century that Congress has sent reform of a major environmental law to the president's desk. Over the last 40 years, American families have been exposed to... Read More

Infrastructure matters. It matters to our economy, our communities, our health and our safety. From electricity and internet, to pipes and ports, infrastructure is an interconnected web that reaches into every aspect of our lives. It brings jobs and new opportunities, and it has the power to transform America. My state of West Virginia is a prime example of the power of infrastructure. Located in the heart of Appalachia, we are the transportation hub of the Mid-Atlantic. Bridges and highways... Read More

In 2016, it should be common sense that women and men get equal pay for equal work. Your salary should be based on your experience and qualifications – not your gender. But unfortunately, gender-based wage differences still exist, and for many women, discrimination in the workplace is an ever-present concern. As female senators, we know firsthand the challenges women face in their careers. This is a serious problem, which is why we worked with both employees and stakeholders from the... Read More

Over the last year, in communities all across the country, 1.4 million Americans started abusing opioids. Every day, 51 more people are killed by an overdose. We’ve seen enough data to know that this is a crisis. Why are so many people with no history of drug use becoming addicted to opioids? One of the most culpable root causes — one that we can quickly fix, if Congress and the medical community are willing to act — is the over-prescription of opioids. Earlier this week, the... Read More

As I travel across West Virginia, I hear about the drug epidemic that is devastating the lives of too many families. With our state leading the nation in drug-related overdose deaths — more than twice the national average — our communities are grappling with the seriousness and pain of addiction. Sadly, drug addiction is a disease that knows no boundaries. Our friends, loved ones and neighbors have all been affected.The urgency of this epidemic demands that we change the course. With... Read More

West Virginia is no stranger to large-scale energy production. We have long been one of the nation's largest energy producing states, and we are proud to power America. The recent expansion of the natural gas industry has only added to our abundant energy supply, and it has provided a sense of optimism for the industry's future. Since the first Marcellus Shale permit was issued in 2005, the amount of natural gas recovered in West Virginia has grown more than 300 percent.West Virginia's Northern... Read More

West Virginia’s economy is facing difficult times. There is no question about it. Our unemployment rate remains well above the national average, our state ranks last nationally in labor force participation with only 53 percent of eligible West Virginians working, layoff notices keep coming and declining coal severance taxes are eroding the state’s budget. Much of this economic hardship is due to the overregulation that has become a staple of the Obama Administration. Harmful... Read More