CHARLESTON, W.Va. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) made stops over the past several days in Elkins, Parsons, Charleston, Friendly, New Martinsville, and Paden City during the U.S. Senate’s state work week. The visits focused on infrastructure investments, homeland security, education, broadband, and economic development throughout West Virginia.
On Tuesday, Senator Capito joined Governor Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Congressman David McKinley (R-W.Va.), leaders with the West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT), and other officials to announce a bid award for the Cheat River Bridge, which will connect a 15-mile stretch of Corridor H between Kerens and Parsons in Tucker County, W.Va.
“Completing Corridor H has the ability to create tremendous opportunities for economic growth in West Virginia, and it has been a top priority me during my time in Congress,” Senator Capito said. “As we all know, building a road in West Virginia is expensive and it takes time, but the benefits to our state are well worth the costs. That’s why when I was negotiating and crafting the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which is now law, I created a $2 billion Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program that will dedicate resources to the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS). Although we have seen a major increase of support for Corridor H since 2018, there is still much more to accomplish in the future. I will continue to use my role at the federal level, in conjunction with leaders back in West Virginia, to make the completion of Corridor H a reality.”
Additionally, Senator Capito met with members of the West Virginia Broadband Enhancement Council to discuss her Capito Connect initiative and collective efforts to expand broadband connectivity in West Virginia. At the end of the day, Senator Capito and Congressman McKinley held a roundtable discussion with local economic development leaders to discuss the future benefits from recent federal infrastructure investments, as well as the importance of broadband development.
For more on these visits, click here.
On Wednesday, Senator Capito made several stops in Kanawha County focused on homeland security, increasing access to educational opportunities, economic development, and enhancing broadband deployment in West Virginia.
First, Senator Capito visited the West Virginia Fusion Center where she toured the facility and met with staff to learn more about the operations. Senator Capito also visited BridgeValley Community and Technical College’s (BVCTT) South Charleston Campus where she met with President Casey Sacks and received a tour of the campus.
In the afternoon, Senator Capito met with West Virginia Commerce Secretary Mitch Carmichael to receive an update from the West Virginia Development Office and discuss her Capito Connect initiative. Following the meeting, Senator Capito hosted a roundtable discussion with internet providers from across the state. The discussion focused on opportunities and challenges that West Virginia’s internet providers are currently facing, the senator’s Capito Connect Share Your Stories initiative, and the impact of future resources through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which Senator Capito helped negotiate and craft.
“If West Virginia is going to reach its full potential, we must better-connect schools, homes, businesses, and hospitals with reliable broadband. I valued the chance to meet with our local providers to hear about issues they face, as well as how we can work together to bring the internet access our state desperately needs. While I was helping negotiate and craft the bipartisan infrastructure bill that is now law, I made certain that underserved and unserved areas would receive significant federal resources. I look forward to continuing our work together to ensure these resources are distributed to our state effectively and in a way that helps our communities that need them most,” Senator Capito said.
For more on these visits, click here.
On Thursday, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Congressman David McKinley (R-W.Va.-01) made several stops in northern West Virginia to tour two local businesses, Momentive Performance Materials and the Paul Wissmach Glass Comp, and to meet with business leaders with the Belomar Regional Council to discuss economic development and expansion efforts in the region.
“Coming out of the pandemic, it’s always encouraging to visit employers who are talking about expanding, hiring, and growing right here in West Virginia,” Senator Capito said. “These stops at Momentive and the Paul Wissmach Glass Company were two great examples of local businesses that are focused on increasing their capacity and with it, their workforce, so they can continue leading in their respective fields. Through the Belomar Regional Council, we also have a renewed focus here in Wetzel County on economic development that will be boosted by the bipartisan infrastructure law as it begins to be implemented. I appreciate all those working to create more jobs and stronger communities in this region of our state, and look forward to continue supporting them in accomplishing our shared goals.”
For more on these visits, click here.
On Friday, Senator Capito participated in the initial organizing meeting for the West Virginia Hydrogen Hub Working Group to collaborate and support a strong West Virginia candidate to be chosen to develop a hydrogen hub, funded through $9.5 billion allocated to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
“This meeting for our Hydrogen Hub Working Group further solidifies our shared goal of advancing hydrogen energy development in West Virginia. For centuries, West Virginia has shown its capability as an energy production leader, while also fostering innovation that has revolutionized production and manufacturing in our country. Bringing a hydrogen hub to West Virginia will further that proud tradition and bring good-paying jobs that spur economic development opportunities within our communities. It is vital that our state takes advantage of developing opportunities created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and I’m confident in our ability to do so,” Senator Capito said.
For more on today’s Hydrogen Hub Working Group meeting, click here.
Photos from the events this week are included below:
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) with Governor Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) and Congressman David McKinley (R-W.Va.) at the Corridor H Cheat Bridge Announcement in Tucker County, W.Va. on Tuesday, February 22, 2022.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) meets with BridgeValley Community and Technical College President Casey Sacks in South Charleston, W.Va. on Wednesday, February 23, 2022.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Congressman David McKinley (R-W.Va.-01) tour the Paul Wissmach Glass Company in Paden City, W.Va. on Thursday, February 24, 2022.
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