WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), chairman of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $60,979,321.56 from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support construction and repair, most notably of schools in Greenbrier, Nicholas, and Kanawha counties. This funding from the FEMA Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation grant program was released after a modification was made to the cost-share agreement between the federal government and the state. By working with the Administration and approval by the President, these additional funds were made available.   

“This truly is great news for West Virginia, especially for our students and educators in communities that were hit the hardest by the floods in 2016,” Chairman Capito said. “Since then, I have been constantly working with DHS and FEMA to make sure that our state continued to receive the proper support that we need to recover fully. Working with President Trump and his administration, we were able to come to an agreement between the state and the federal government, which has allowed West Virginia to receive the maximum amount of additional funding available. Through my chairmanship I have made sure in hearings and in meetings with DHS and FEMA leadership that West Virginia’s recovery remains a priority. Moving forward, this will be a vital component of our ongoing recovery and prevention effort and will provide the necessary resources for our schools to be successful, and for our students to reach their full potential. I am thankful for our state’s relationship with DHS and FEMA and their persistent support in this process as we continue to provide the relief they need. I will continue to fight on behalf of West Virginians that need it most.”

“Any West Virginian who experienced or witnessed the devastation caused by the 2016 floods knows firsthand that the effects of these floods were disastrous. As soon as I hit the ground after the floods, I knew West Virginia would receive this cost share adjustment. That’s why I called on the White House in July 2016 to approve the cost share adjustment proactively so West Virginia could receive the funds, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. On February 4th, I was proud to lead the entire West Virginia delegation in a letter to President Trump asking for his quick approval of the cost share adjustment. I commend the President for taking action and delivering $60 million to the State of West Virginia now and millions more in the future. I will continue to help these communities rebuild and recover from this disaster. I am proud of how West Virginians supported and cared for each other during the flooding and I know that receiving this funding will be a great help to those still in need in our state,” said Senator Manchin.   

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