Click here or the image above to watch the full floor speech.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor and highlighted several key parts in the appropriations package, including the agreement reached to secure miners’ pensions and health care, infrastructure, and measures to help improve our homeland security. Yesterday, the Senate Appropriations Committee announced two comprehensive appropriations packages, which include all 12 funding bills, to fully fund the government. The Senate is expected to vote on these packages this week.
ON MINERS’ PENSIONS:
“Our West Virginia miners have answered the call throughout their careers. Their hard work provided the electricity and the steel that has powered our American economy, and the time has come to protect the retirement benefits that these miners earned. The Bipartisan American Miners Act will secure both pension and health care benefits for these hard working men and women,” Senator Capito said during her speech. “Thousands of miners in West Virginia and elsewhere in coal country will have a merrier Christmas when this bill becomes law later this week. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this critical legislation.”
ON INFRASTRUCTURE:
“I was proud to ensure that in the transportation and infrastructure title of the appropriations bill, we fund the Appalachian Development Highway System at $100 million,” Senator Capito said during her speech. “I have also advocated for action to address structurally deficient bridges...Almost 20 percent of West Virginia’s bridges are classified as structurally deficient.”
ON HOMELAND SECURITY:
“I am proud to say that the Homeland title in the minibus package we are considering this week provides funds and resources to continue the good work we have begun to stem the tide of illegal immigration,” Senator Capito said during her speech. “I’ve seen firsthand on the Southwest border the challenges we face, and yes, the progress we have made. This bill supports the work of the men and women of the Department—at CBP, ICE, HSI, the Coast Guard, and many others who daily are standing watch on our borders, on our coasts, on our computer networks.”
For a video of Senator Capito’s remarks today, click here.
# # #