Op-Eds
Proposal to roll back Clean Power Plan is long overdue | The State Journal
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt announced a proposed rule to roll back the Clean Power Plan. This announcement is long overdue and welcomes good news for West Virginia. This reversal demonstrates the Trump Administration's willingness to work with West Virginia, instead of against us, to prevent EPA overreach and utilize state-driven policies. I am very proud of the critical role West Virginians play in powering our nation. West Virginia is the second … Continue Reading
May 26, 2017
We must craft a true bipartisan budget that puts Americans, West Virginians first | Register Herald
Here in the Mountain State, we don't expect any handouts. We work hard for what we have, and we're proud to do so. I've always said that the federal government should be a strong partner in that work - not our sole provider, but our partner. I have the honor of serving on the Senate Appropriations Committee, where I have the unique opportunity to fight for investments in West Virginia every day. So when the president was drafting his new budget earlier this year, I reached out to him to … Continue Reading
May 02, 2017
Hard work secures vote on Miners Protection Act | Charleston Gazette Mail
Since the continuing resolution passed in December with only a four-month "fix" for miners health care, I have continued the fight to get a permanent solution. That is why the first bill I re-introduced this year was the Miners Protection Act, to prevent the 22,600 retired miners from losing the health care and pensions they have earned and deserve. And this week, I am proud to say that Congress will vote on a permanent solution to ensure retired miners keep their health care. Seventy years … Continue Reading
April 29, 2017
Week brought jobs, innovation, hope for city, all of West Virginia | Huntington Herald Dispatch
In just a few short days, there was so much to celebrate last week in Huntington. We connected hundreds of local job seekers with promising employment opportunities, we announced millions of dollars in federal funding for projects aimed at moving our local and state economies ahead, and we celebrated as the city of Huntington was named America's Best Community. At a job and resource fair I was proud to co-host April 21 with Workforce West Virginia, Marshall University, the city of Huntington, … Continue Reading
March 26, 2017
More treatment centers a must to save lives | Huntington Herald Dispatch
It was Aug. 15, 2016, and 28 people overdosed within a five hour span in Huntington. The first person to overdose was a young lady named Taylor Leigh Wilson. It was her third overdose and Taylor and her family decided it was time to try treatment. Leigh Ann and John Wilson, Taylor's mother and father, knew they had no choice but to sign a mental hygiene order, which committed Taylor to Highland Medical Center. But even that had its limits. The order used was to hold someone up to 28 days, but … Continue Reading
March 09, 2017
Pass Jessie’s Law, and let her legacy live on | Charleston Daily Mail
Before Jessie Grubb's life was taken over by addiction in 2009, Jessie's future was bright. She was a beloved daughter to David and Kate Grubb, a beloved sibling to her four sisters, and a beloved friend to many. She was an excellent student, scoring in the 99th percentile on all of her tests. Jessie was a cheerleader at Roosevelt Junior High School and was an avid runner. The only trouble she had ever gotten in at school was when she protested the Iraq war. Needless to say, she was a … Continue Reading
March 02, 2017
Nation must continue to support core values | The Herald-Dispatch
As a proud new member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I sent a letter to President Trump last week describing West Virginia's priorities that I believe will benefit our state and nation. While I firmly believe that the national debt is one of the greatest threats facing this nation, I also believe that we must continue to invest in the values and principles that make this nation the greatest country on Earth. We must continue to take care of our children and help those in need; … Continue Reading
February 28, 2017
Senator pens letter to President Trump | Lincoln Journal
As a proud new member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I sent a letter to President Trump this week describing West Virginia's priorities that I believe will benefit our state and nation. While I firmly believe that the national debt is one of the greatest threats facing this nation, I also believe that we must continue to invest in the values and principles that make this nation the greatest country on Earth. We must continue to take care of our children and help those in need; … Continue Reading
February 26, 2017
Seniors, veterans can't suffer as nation puts fiscal house in order | The Exponent Telegram
As a proud new member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I sent a letter to President Trump this week describing West Virginia's priorities that I believe will benefit our state and nation. While I firmly believe that the national debt is one of the greatest threats facing this nation, I also believe that we must continue to invest in the values and principles that make this nation the greatest country on Earth. We must continue to take care of our children and help those in need; … Continue Reading
February 25, 2017
Push partisanship aside | The Journal
As a proud new member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I sent a letter to President Trump this week describing West Virginia's priorities that I believe will benefit our state and nation. While I firmly believe that the national debt is one of the greatest threats facing this nation, I also believe that we must continue to invest in the values and principles that make this nation the greatest country on Earth. We must continue to take care of our children and help those in need; … Continue Reading
February 07, 2017
Congressional leaders comment on DeVos confirmation | WeAreWVProud.com
For many communities in West Virginia, our schools are more than just classrooms, teachers and textbooks. Our children in West Virginia learn more from their public schools than reading, writing and arithmetic. They're the heart of the community and a home away from home. They're a safe place to stay after school where no harm will come to you. They're a place where nutritional meals are served and healthcare services are provided by trusted school nurses. With the stakes this high, I … Continue Reading
February 03, 2017
FCC needs to help close divide | The Inter-Mountain
Like food, water and electricity, robust broadband connectivity is a must-have for anyone who wishes to fully participate in our 21st century digital economy. From downloading and submitting job applications to having access to comprehensive health care, broadband connectivity transforms lives. While the majority of Americans who live in urban areas have the option of easily downloading a song or a large document in a matter of seconds, people living in communities across West Virginia need … Continue Reading
January 29, 2017
Insisting on Trade Deals That Benefit West Virginians | The Wheeling Intelligencer
West Virginia's economy has been hit hard by past trade agreements that often favored the economies of foreign countries and not our own. Over the past few decades our state has been uniquely impacted by these harmful trade agreements on our manufacturing industry, while also being the target of sweeping environmental regulations that crippled our energy industry. As trade agreements have been ratified, we've seen our jobs being shipped overseas, resulting in significant job loss. West … Continue Reading
January 18, 2017
It’s not too late to protect our miners | Charleston Daily Mail
Since the continuing resolution passed in December with only a four-month "fix" for miners healthcare, I have been working to find solutions from all angles. That is why I re-introduced the Miners Protection Act this week, to prevent the more than 1,500 miners in Boone and Wyoming Counties from losing the healthcare they have earned and deserve. For the next four months, the Miners Protection Act will be my number one priority. So much so that in my conversations with President-Elect Donald … Continue Reading
December 10, 2016
Bill’s ‘fix’ for miner benefits inhumane, unacceptable | Charleston Gazette
This week, I was forced to vote against the continuing resolution to keep the government funded because it did not include an acceptable and reasonable solution for retired miners' health care and pensions. This four-month "fix" for the miners health care only means these men and women will be notified again in January that they are going to lose their health care benefits in April. It also means we will have to keep fighting for the permanent benefits these hardworking men and women were … Continue Reading
November 25, 2016
Small Businesses Are Drivers Of West Virginia’s Economy | The Wheeling Intelligencer
As we celebrate Small Business Saturday, we must remember how many lives throughout our country are built on the American Dream - the idea that if you work hard and do the right thing, you will be rewarded. From my grandfather's grocery store, to my father's furniture store, to my own carpet business, small business ownership has been an integral part of my family's history in West Virginia. I have no doubt West Virginia's thriving small business culture is due to Mountain State residents' … Continue Reading
November 22, 2016
Voices of Gold Star Families to be included in Veterans History Project | Preston County Journal
It is important for future generations to learn and understand the true hardships of war and military service. The Veterans History Project collects and preserves the personal accounts of American war veterans for this exact purpose. West Virginia has nearly 700 stories included in the Veterans History Project, including the account of Medal of Honor Recipient Woody Williams, who is not only a war hero but a lifelong advocate for Veterans and Gold Star families. What has not been included in … Continue Reading
November 21, 2016
West Virginia celebrating tradition | The Inter-Mountain
West Virginia is celebrating one of our oldest pastimes, deer firearm season. It is a tradition that is central to not only our state's culture, but also to me. As a young boy growing up in Farmington, few things excited me more than the arrival of opening day buck season. As any hunter knows, there are so many aspects of hunting that make it such an enjoyable pastime, and allow West Virginians to reconnect with family and friends by celebrating our common bonds. Deer season is also a … Continue Reading
November 11, 2016
Fisher House to provide comfort for veterans, families | The Herald-Dispatch
Every year, on Veterans Day, we gather as a nation to express our deepest gratitude to the men and women who have fought to safeguard our beloved nation and secure our freedoms. No matter the war, no matter the rank, no matter the duty, every one of our Veterans has answered America's call. They have served us well and we must do the same for them. One of the ways we can show our gratitude to our Veterans is by providing them with the best possible care when they return home. That is why … Continue Reading
October 27, 2016
W.Va. needs jobs; job fair set Friday at Erma Byrd Higher Education Center | The Register-Herald
In Washington, I constantly hear talk of an economic recovery. However, you can ask any West Virginian, "What do we need more of in our state," and they will tell you jobs, jobs and more jobs. Through the recession and the war on coal, we have lost far too many jobs in our mines, but we have also lost many indirect jobs in our industries serving our mines and miners. There is absolutely no doubt that our state has been hit hard. Add that to the fact that in this ever changing technologically … Continue Reading
