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Capito explains W.Va. benefits in first FY2020 appropriations bills

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., has highlighted appropriations beneficial for West Virginia in a committee review of the 2020 Department of Defense Appropriations Act and the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act unanimously.

The defense spending act was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee by a 16-15 vote, mostly on party lines. The Water Development Appropriations Act was unanimously approved.

According to Capito, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act includes:

∫ $694.9 billion, an increase of $20.5 billion above the FY2019 enacted level.

∫ Supports a pay raise of 3.1 percent for our service members.

∫ Provides funding for programs that have a West Virginia impact–such as Counter Drug, the National Guard, Youth ChalleNGe Academy, Civil Air Patrol, and facilities like the Allegany Ballistics Lab and Biometric Technology Center in Clarksburg.

The Republican led committee rejected an amendment to the defense spending appropriation by Vice Chairmen Dick Chairman, D-Ill., that was intended to prevent President Trump from deferring 127 military projects to divert $3.6 billion to the wall on the border with Mexico.

“The power of the purse is the Constitutional cornerstone of the separation of powers. But this President has continually disregarded this Congress and subverted our Constitution for a failed campaign promise he said that Mexico would pay for,” Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said. “I’m disappointed that my colleagues refused to take a stand today for the Constitution, the Congress or their constituents.”

The FY2020 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act includes:

∫ $800 million for Fossil Energy Research, an increase over the enacted level–including specific increases for the National Energy Technology Lab for facilities and research, continuing the investment Senator Capito was able to provide for the supercomputer Joule and to address deferred maintenance and a potential sensitive compartmented information facility and for the Computational Science and Engineering Center.

∫ $175 million for the Appalachian Regional Commission, an increase of $10 million over last year.

∫ Language supportive of continued efforts for the Appalachian Storage Hub, including funding for the Title XVII Loan Program.

∫ Funding for operations and maintenance of West Virginia’s Corps of Engineers sites–such as Bluestone Dam, the Robert C. Byrd Locks and Dams, and Summersville and Sutton Lakes.

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