Tag: Shelley Moore Capito

Audio: Congressional Hearing on Elk River Chemical Spill

CongressHeaingFebruary102014Part2.mp3
The question and answer portion of Monday, Feb. 10th's U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee field hearing on the Elk River Chemical Spill.

The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a hearing Monday morning in Charleston to learn more about the Jan. 9 chemical spill into the Elk River that left 300,000 people banned from using tap water for up to 10 days.

The witness list included the president of West Virginia American Water, state health, homeland security and environmental officials, the chairman of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board and county emergency and homeland security officials.

Freedom Industries President Gary Southern was invited but did not attend.

Two W.Va. members sit on the committee —Nick Rahall, the committee’s top Democrat, and Republican Shelley Moore Capito.

Capito Among Latest to File For 2014 Races

U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito is officially in the race for the U.S. Senate.

Capito filed her candidacy papers this morning. The seven-term Republican is seeking to fill the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Jay Rockefeller.
 
Another Republican, Larry Eugene Butcher of Washington in Wood County, also filed today to run for the U.S. Senate.

Williamstown Democrat David Walmsley and Parkersburg Republican Matthew Dodrill filed to run for the U.S. Senate last week.

Four Republicans and two Democrats have filed to run for Capito’s House seat in the 2nd District.

Meanwhile in the 1st District, State Auditor and Democrat Glen Gainer III filed papers on Tuesday to run for the House, while incumbent Republican Rep. David McKinley filed last week to run for re-election.

W.Va. delegation weighs in on shutdown's effect on miners' safety

West Virginia’s congressional delegation is weighing in on the shutdown’s
effect on mine safety. Approximately 1,400 of MSHA’s 2,355 employees are
furloughed during the government shutdown. Three miners were killed
on three consecutive days this past weekend, including one from West
Virginia.

In his remarks Thursday from the House floor, Congressman Nick Rahall
urged his colleagues to “abandon this ridiculous political showdown that
is undercutting the safety in our mines, our industrial facilities, our
food chain, and so much more.”

“There is talk that the shutdown is causing no real pain.  The most extreme anti-government politicians even express the hope that such a cutback in government programs and services should be made permanent.  And too many others are content to hang back and let those with extreme views have their way for the time being. But I stand here today to remind my colleagues, and the public, that cuts in government funding and government programs have consequences –sometimes deadly. It is a lesson we learned in 2006 when annual coal mining deaths soared to 45, a 10-year high, reversing an 80-year trend of steadily falling fatalities – a trend attributed, in part, to years of underfunding the Mine Safety and Health Administration.”

Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito introduced legislation Thursday to fund the Mine Safety and Health Administration through December 15, 2013.  The bill would fund MSHA at the same level that was in effect the day before the shutdown began.

“MSHA performs the critical role of making sure that West Virginia coal miners come home safely each day,” Capito said.  “This important legislation would allow MSHA to operate at full capacity, protecting our miners notwithstanding the government shutdown.”
 
In a news release issued Thursday, Capito says she voted for three Continuing Resolutions prior to September 30 that would have averted a government shutdown. 

Senator Jay Rockefeller also released a statement Wednesday on the matter:

"My heart goes out to the family of 62-year-old Roger R. King of Moundsville who was killed late last week at the McElroy Mine in Marshall County. Any time a miner perishes while working underground, we are reminded of the critical importance of keeping our miners safe on the job. While details are still forthcoming about this and other mining fatalities we’ve suffered in recent days, I cannot help but to express my deep frustration about the misguided government shutdown that has furloughed MSHA inspectors and prevented them from conducting the regular inspections that make sure coal companies are operating their mines as safely as possible. During this shutdown, I urge all coal operators to be vigilant about safety procedures in their mines that will prevent mining injuries and deaths. I also urge miners to report any behavior that you believe is putting you and your fellow miners in jeopardy. Even during a shutdown, MSHA has said it will continue to investigate complaints from miners about conditions that may pose serious safety problems.”

Federal lawmakers struggle to make good

U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller, along with 48 other senators and Congressman Nick Rahall (all D-W.Va.) sent a letter today to Defense…

U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller, along with 48 other senators and Congressman Nick Rahall (all D-W.Va.) sent a letter today to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel urging that the National Guard and Reserves, and the civilians who support our troops, receive pay during the government shutdown. 

The letter comes despite the passage of the “Pay Our Military Act” which was signed into law just before the government shutdown.  The intent was to make sure all military personnel receive pay. Still, somehow many service members and civilians, especially in the National Guard and Reserves, have been furloughed without compensation.

Meanwhile the list of legislators who have said that they plan to donate or refuse compensation earned over the course of the shutdown grew to 127 today.

Senator Joe Manchin announced today that he will donate the salary he receives during the government shutdown to the Save the Children charity in West Virginia

Congresswoman Shelley Moore-Capito has also asked that her pay be withheld until the shutdown is over. A representative from her office reports that she intends to donate that pay to a charity, but doesn’t specify which one.

Quick fact: Members of the House and Senate have earned $174,000 annually since 2009–which is about $500 every day. Among congressional leaders, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) earns $223,500 annually, while the Senate leaders Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) each get $193,400.

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