WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) issued the following statement today in response to the FY2017 omnibus appropriations legislation that funds the government:

“The government funding agreement includes a number of significant wins for West Virginians. The bill will provide the permanent health care our miners were promised — something I fought hard to secure in this agreement. It will also deliver essential funds for flood relief, increase resources to help combat the opioid epidemic, provide more support for our troops and national security efforts, and improve rural development. These are just a few examples of how this government funding bill will help keep West Virginians healthy and safe, and empower us to grow and improve our economy and our communities. I fully expect the Senate and House to pass the agreement this week, and I will work hard to help get it across the finish line.”

This bill will help West Virginians by providing:

  • Permanent health care benefits for miners and their families;
  • Assistance for communities recovering from last June’s floods;
  • Increased defense spending to boost our military, secure our borders and make America safer;
  • Significant funding to combat the drug epidemic through enforcement and treatment;
  • Increased funding for fossil energy research and development;
  • A renewed focus on rural development to increase economic opportunity in underserved areas, including help for workers in West Virginia’s coal communities;
  • Investments in ground-breaking scientific research at universities throughout West Virginia and
  • Funding for grants and loans programs to expand broadband, specifically in rural areas.


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