MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) made several stops in Monongalia County where she met with community and business leaders, health care professionals, and local and state elected officials.
First, Senator Capito visited West Virginia University (WVU) Children’s Hospital where she met with members of the leadership and staff, and toured the facility. During the visit, Senator Capito saw firsthand the high-quality health care that the hospital provides for young patients in West Virginia.
“Having the best available health care options is incredibly important for West Virginians, especially our children,” Senator Capito said. “The doctors, nurses, and entire staff at WVU Children’s Hospital are working hard every day to deliver the best care possible for the kids who need it, and that was evident during today’s visit. I’m so proud of the good work they are doing here at the hospital and look forward to continuing to support them.”
“We welcome and appreciate Senator Shelley Moore Capito's visit. What excites us most about our Children's Hospital is what our patients and visitors will find inside the facility: a significantly larger care team that includes dozens of new pediatric specialists and subspecialists in a variety of disciplines from pediatric cardiothoracic surgery to pediatric neurosurgery; a best-in-class pediatric emergency department; the state’s only Level IV neonatal intensive care unit; and a world-class Birthing Center supported by an exceptionally talented team of providers who can handle the most routine and the most complex pregnancies,” Michael A. Grace, EdD, MBA, FACHE, president of WVU Hospitals, said. “WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital is the collective effort of thousands, including an army of generous donors who helped breathe life into the dream.”
Next, Senator Capito participated in an event with Breezeline, the nation’s eighth-largest cable provider, to announce that the cable operator will expand access to fast fiber internet in West Virginia through the construction of a 500-mile, fiber-rich network that will reach more than 40,000 homes and businesses in Monongalia County. Since the project began last year, Breezeline has invested more than $40 million in the construction and activation of its network and has tripled its workforce as it has expanded its operations in the region.
“In the ever-evolving global economy, our ability to compete depends on bringing affordable, high-speed internet access to homes, businesses, and classrooms in West Virginia. Breezeline’s investment here gives our communities access to the best that technology has to offer while providing more choice to consumers,” Senator Capito said.
“We thank Senator Capito for her participation in Breezeline’s ‘Connecting West Virginia’ event today and for her leadership in bringing state-of-the-art connectivity to West Virginia,” Frank van der Post, President of Breezeline, said. “In addition to the Breezeline Fiber Internet expansion in Monongalia County, we share Senator Capito’s commitment to finding ways at the federal, state and local level to bring leading-edge technology to West Virginia.”
At the end of the day, Senator Capito traveled to Longview Power in Maidsville, W.Va. where she participated in a roundtable discussion with the company’s leadership team to learn more about their energy needs and projects for the future.
“As an energy-producing state, I am always happy to discuss how West Virginia can partner with our energy producers to be more efficient and invest in the future,” Senator Capito said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what Longview Power does in the future to provide reliable, affordable energy for our state and our country."
“We want to thank Senator Capito for coming to Longview again to discuss both the challenges and opportunities of the future,” Steve Nelson, CEO of Longview Power, said. “She has been one of our strongest supporters over the last two decades and we look forward to continuing to work with her on the years to come.”
Photos from the events are included below:
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) tours WVU Children’s Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va. on Thursday, April 6, 2023.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) tours WVU Children’s Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va. on Thursday, April 6, 2023.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) participates in Breezeline’s broadband expansion event in Morgantown, W.Va. on Thursday, April 6, 2023.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) participates in a roundtable discussion at Longview Power in Maidsville, W.Va. on Thursday, April 6, 2023.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) visits with WVU RNI Director Dr. Ali Rezai in Morgantown, W.Va. on Thursday, April 6, 2023.
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