CHARLESTON, W.Va. — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced funding from the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Interior (DOI), and Agriculture (USDA), as well as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and AmeriCorps, to support economic development, volunteerism, health and energy research, and clean air and water programs throughout West Virginia. 

NSF FUNDING: Senator Capito secured funding from the NSF to support two research projects based at WVU, one that partners with West Virginia State University (WVSU) and Marshall University centered on collaborative research to create a “One Health Network” to research causes of environmental impacts on human health and another environmental research project studying the effect of excess nitrogen added to water and soil sources also through the EPSCoR program.

“I am excited to see WVU, WVSU, and Marshall teaming up to find ways to improve the health of West Virginians. The One Health West Virginia Network has the potential to harness our best minds to identify real issues and find practical solutions to chronic health issues,” Senator Capito said. “I am also happy to see WVU take on environmental research through EPSCoR to examine how the runoff of nutrients like nitrogen affect our environment.”

USDA FUNDING: Senator Capito also secured funding from USDA to help finance a new dump truck for the Town of Alderson to help perform tasks related to street maintenance as well as water and sewer utilities.

“Equipping our communities with the tools they need to keep their streets in good shape, water clean, and sewers working properly is essential to make sure they thrive. I am happy to see this funding from USDA helping Alderson secure new and needed equipment,” Senator Capito said.

AMERICORPS FUNDING: Senator Capito secured funding for the West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service to mobilize 1,500 volunteers on a National Day of Service on the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks.

“It will always be important that we honor the victims of the 9/11 terror attacks and turn that tragic day into a reason to come together, give back, and revitalize our communities in the face of an act of evil on America. I’m pleased to secure the funding needed for AmeriCorps to make this service project possible in West Virginia,” Senator Capito said.

DOI FUNDING: Senator Capito also announced funding from the DOI’s Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to expand the efficient and responsible use of outdoor spaces.

“Clean air, clean water, and clean outdoor space are enormously important resources to preserve. I am happy to see this money coming from the LWCF to West Virginia so we can preserve our natural beauty and natural resources. I will continue to find ways to utilize resources from the LWCF to improve outdoor recreation opportunities in our state,” Senator Capito said.

HHS FUNDING: Finally, Senator Capito secured funding from HHS through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases program for West Virginia to be ready in the event of another national medical emergency like COVID-19.

“I am happy to see money from the CDC coming to West Virginia to help our state bolster its medical infrastructure so we are ready to deal with another viral outbreak and learn from what we did well and how we can improve after COVID-19 hit,” Senator Capito said.

Individual awards listed below:

  • $3,000,000 in NSF funding to WVU (Morgantown, W.Va.) for a health research project entitled "RaMP: Training in the One Health Framework: Studies in Animals and Environments that Affect Human Health in West Virginia (One Health WV)."
  • $2,850,529 in DOI funding to the West Virginia Department of Commerce (Charleston, W.Va.) for land and water conservation.
  • $1,262,663 in HHS funding to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (Charleston, W.Va.) for its Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases program.
  • $599,442 in NSF funding to WVU (Morgantown, W.Va.) for a project entitled "LTREB: Quantifying the recovery of central Appalachian forests during the final chapter of society's inadvertent nitrogen fertilization experiment” through the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program.
  • $131,381 in AmeriCorps funding to the West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service (Charleston, W.Va.) to have 1,500 volunteers who will participate in service days, creating murals and other art installations, restoring cemeteries, and other projects to be proposed by sub-applicants, across West Virginia on the September 11th Day of Service and Remembrance. On the September 11th Day of Service, 1,500 volunteers will be responsible for 10 art installations, 10 restored cemeteries, and 10 additional projects.
  • $50,000 in USDA Rural Development funding to the Town of Alderson, W.Va. to partially finance a cargo vehicle (dump truck) to perform tasks assigned to the municipal street department as well as to the town's water and sewer utilities. The truck is necessary to continue providing essential services for these departments since the current vehicle has reached the end of its service life.

# # #