HENRICO, Virginia, Nov. 24 -- Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on Nov. 23, 2021: Following a push from U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger, President Biden today set forth plans to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in an effort to lower gasoline and fuel prices that have increased during a period of supply chain disruptions. Earlier this week, Spanberger and eight of her House colleagues sent a letter to President Biden urging him to tap U.S. reserves to boost domestic supply and put dow more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, issued the following news on Nov. 23, 2021: Congressman Gerald E. Connolly, Chairman of the Government Operations Subcommittee, introduced the bipartisan Strengthening the Office of Personnel Management Act. The bill grows out of years of bipartisan efforts to rebuild the struggling Office of Personnel Management, which serves as the federal government's central hub of human resources policy. "We successfully stopped the previous administration from abolishing OPM, now we have a more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 -- Rep. Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, D-Virginia, issued the following statement on Nov. 22, 2021: * * * Congressman Gerry Connolly, Chairman of the House Government Operations subcommittee, released the following statement on federal employee vaccination rates. "Federal employees remain ready to serve--with public health at the forefront. "Already, 95% of feds are in compliance with vaccine mandates that go into effect today. "Some agencies are near 100% compliance. "Thank you, President Biden!" more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 -- Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, D-Virginia, chair of the House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Government Operations, issued the following news release on Nov. 23, 2021: On December 1, 2021, at 10:15 a.m. ET, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, will hold a hybrid hearing to examine the federal government's recruitment and hiring policies and explore strategies to help build the next generation of public servants. With just seven percent of federal civilian employees under the a more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 -- Rep. Carol Miller, R-West Virginia, issued the following commentary to the WV News on Nov. 21, 2021: * * * Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) recently published an op-ed in WV News titled, "President Biden Is Building Back Broke". In the op-ed, she outlined the ways President Biden's social spending package would negatively affect West Virginians. Congresswoman Carol Miller: President Biden Is Building Back Broke November 21, 2021 President Biden's first 10 months in office have been riddled with disasters. From leavi more PR

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Nov. 24 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following statement on Nov. 23, 2021a, after President Biden's announcement to tap into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve: * * * "Today's announcement to release 50 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is simply an effort to mask the fallout of President Biden's terrible energy policies. This follows his earlier requests to OPEC and Russia to increase production. more PR

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Nov. 24 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, issued the following statement on Nov. 23, 2021: * * * U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today released the below statement following President Joe Biden's announcement to tap into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. "Today's announcement to release 50 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is simply an effort to mask the fallout of President Biden's terrible more PR

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Nov. 24 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, recently joined Commerce Committee Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and other Commerce Committee members in introducing the Facilitating Relief for Efficient Intermodal Gateways to Handle Transportation (FREIGHT) Act. This bill would take important steps to address the ongoing freight challenges, while a more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on Nov. 23, 2021: U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP) Committee, announced his co-sponsorship of the Healthy Maternal and Obstetric Medicine (Healthy MOM) Act, legislation that would ensure that all people eligible for coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance marketplaces, as well as those eligible for other individual or group health plan coverage, can access affordable health coverage thr more PR

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Nov. 24 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release on Nov. 23, 2021: U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today announced $123,905,029 to support 440 West Virginia rural healthcare providers. This funding is from the American Rescue Plan, which included $8.5 billion specifically for rural providers through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). "Rural providers across West Virginia have worked tirelessly to provide quality, affordable healthcare to our fellow West Virginian more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following statement on Nov. 23, 2021: * * * U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following statement on President Biden's decision to release 50 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in an effort to lower gas prices. "Today's release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is an important policy Band-Aid for rising gas price more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following statement on Nov. 23, 2021: * * * U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today released the following statement wishing West Virginians a happy Thanksgiving. "This year as West Virginians gather together to celebrate Thanksgiving, I am reminded of the great blessings we share as West Virginians and Americans. Growing up in Farmington, I was always taught that if you can count your blessings, you can share your blessings. And despite the challenges we faced this year, the more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 -- The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee issued the following testimony by Jason Roberts, executive director of the Region I Planning and Development Council in Princeton, West Virginia, involving a hearing on Oct. 14, 2021, hearing entitled "Identifying Unique Challenges for Small, Rural and Disadvantaged Communities in Accessing and Maintaining Drinking Water and Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure Services (Part 1)": * * * Dear Senators, on behalf of the Region I Planning & Development Council, I sincerely t more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 -- The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee issued the following testimony by Todd Grinstead, executive director of the West Virginia Rural Water Association, involving a hearing on Oct. 14, 2021, entitled "Identifying Unique Challenges for Small, Rural and Disadvantaged Communities in Accessing and Maintaining Drinking Water and Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure Services (Part 1)": * * * It is an honor to appear before you today and have the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works hold its field h more PR

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Nov. 24 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release on Nov. 23, 2021: U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $2,409,700 in Rural Development grants and loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Housing Preservation Program and Community Facilities Program. This support will help deliver resources specific to the needs of communities across West Virginia. "Rural Developmen more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release on Nov. 23, 2021: Legislation authored by U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) to improve transparency at VA medical centers was signed into law by President Joe Biden. This law will now require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit to Congress a report on the use of security cameras in VA medical facilities. "Our veterans have made unimaginable sacrifices on behalf of our freedom, and they deserve  more PR

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Nov. 24 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to lower health care costs and improve health outcomes for Americans at risk of developing diabetes. The Preventing Diabetes in Medicare Act would extend Medicare coverage for medical nutrition therapy services to individuals with pre-diabetes and risk factors for developing type-2 diabetes. Under current law, Medicare will more PR

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Nov. 24 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release on Nov. 23, 2021: U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $2,409,700 in Rural Development grants and loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Housing Preservation Program and Community Facilities Program. This support will help deliver resources specific to the needs of communities across West Virginia. "Investing in rural communities  more PR

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Nov. 24 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release: Legislation authored by U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) to improve transparency at VA medical centers was signed into law by President Joe Biden. This law will now require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit to Congress a report on the use of security cameras in VA medical facilities. "Over the past several years, West Virginia Veterans have  more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on Nov. 23, 2021: U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine applauded $5,493,100 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to improve infrastructure in rural communities across the Commonwealth. The funding was awarded through the Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program, the Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program, the Community Facilities Disaster Grants, and the Economic Impact Initiative Grants Program, all administe more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine applauded $5,493,100 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to improve infrastructure in rural communities across the Commonwealth. The funding was awarded through the Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program, the Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program, the Community Facilities Disaster Grants, and the Economic Impact Initiative Grants Program, all administered by USDA Rural D more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine sent a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expressing concern that the FAA is considering closing the Air Traffic Control Tower at Richmond International Airport between the hours of midnight and 5:00 a.m. In their letter, the Senators highlight the need for the Control Tower to continue to be operational on a 24/7 basis for airport safety. "The FAA's analysis should take into account the critical  more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine sent a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expressing concern that the FAA is considering closing the Air Traffic Control Tower at Richmond International Airport between the hours of midnight and 5:00 a.m. In their letter, the Senators highlight the need for the Control Tower to continue to be operational on a 24/7 basis for airport safety. "The FAA's analysis should take into account the critical ne more PR