Thursday - February 5, 2026
U.S. Congressional Tipoffs Involving Virginia Newsletter for Thursday May 18, 2023 ( 28 items )  

Capito, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Recover Hundreds of Billions in Unchecked Unemployment Fraud
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release on May 17, 2023: Last week, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) joined 14 of her Senate colleagues, led by U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), in reintroducing legislation to help recover taxpayer dollars lost to unemployment insurance (UI) fraud and provide incentives for states to recover fraudulent payments. The introduction of the legislation follows ongoing concerns that just a sliver  more

Capito: Enforceable Deadlines Necessary to Avoid Agency Delays, Project Holdups
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release on May 17, 2023: U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, participated in a full committee hearing on the need to address America's broken permitting and environmental review system. During the hearing, Ranking Member Capito questioned federal witnesses about the best ways to streamline projects of all kinds, and impl  more

Chair Manchin, Energy & Natural Resources Committee Clear Bipartisan America Outdoor Recreation Act, Nuclear Fuel Security Act, Other Legislation
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news release: The U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a business meeting to consider one pending nomination and pending legislation. The motion to report Mr. David Crane's nomination to be Under Secretary of Energy for Infrastructure at the U.S. Department of Energy resulted in a 13-6 roll call vote. The nomination will now move to th  more

Government Watchdog Finds ED is Failing Private School Students, Teachers
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, chairwoman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement on May 17, 2023: * * * Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) issued the following statement after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report that found severe deficiencies in the Department of Education's enforcement of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act's (ESEA) equitable services provi  more

Griffith Announces $70,000 for Economic Development Planning in Ninth District
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Virginia, issued the following news release on May 17, 2023: U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) announced today that the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded $70,000 to the West Piedmont Planning District Commission, headquartered in Martinsville, Virginia, for economic development planning. "This important federal funding will assist in economic development planning that supports private capital   more

House Appropriations Subcommittee Issues Testimony From Rep. Griffith
WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies issued the following written testimony by Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Virginia, at a member day hearing on March 23, 2023, on the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization program funding request: * * * Thank you Chairman Simpson and Ranking Member Pingree for holding this hearing today, I appreciate the Committee's willingness to provide me the opportunity to discuss the Abandoned Mine Land  more

House Education Committee Chair Foxx Readout on OSHA Roundtable
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, chairwoman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following news release: Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) hosted a roundtable discussion on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) aggressive regulatory agenda that is more focused on union organizing than workers' safety and is ultimately hurting job creators, especially small businesses. During the meetin  more

House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight Chairwoman Kiggans: 'As a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, I Am No Stranger to the Challenges of Hiring, Staffing Medical Professionals'
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia, chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, issued the following news release: Rep. Jen Kiggans, (R-Va.), the Chairwoman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, delivered the following opening remarks, as prepared, at the start of the Subcommittee's Joint Oversight Hearing with the Subcommittee on Health to assess recruitment and retention of staff with  more

Kaine & Bipartisan Group of Colleagues Urge Investments to Modernize Marines
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release and letter: U.S. Senator Tim Kaine--Chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower, which oversees the Marine Corps--joined Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) and a bipartisan, bicameral group of colleagues in urging Senate Appropriations Committee leadership to continue to invest in the U.S. Marine Corps Force Design initiatives, which is the branch's restructuring plan to modernize and prepare its forces   more

Kiggans at HVAC Joint O&I and Health Subcommittee Hearing: "The VA Has Its Work Cut Out for Them."
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia, issued the following opening remarks on May 17, 2023: * * * Rep. Jen Kiggans (VA-02), the Chairwoman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, delivered the following opening remarks, as prepared, at the start of the Subcommittee's Joint Oversight Hearing with the Subcommittee on Health to assess recruitment and retention of staff within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system  more

Kiggans, Houlahan, Sherill Relaunch the Servicewomen and Women Veterans Caucus
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia, issued the following news on May 17, 2023: This week, the bipartisan Servicewomen and Women Veterans (SWWV) Caucus relaunched for the 118th Congress under the leadership of Congresswomen Jen Kiggans (VA-02), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), and Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11). SWWV fosters collaboration among Members of Congress to address issues facing America's servicewomen and women veterans. To date, there are more than 50 members of the caucus, which is   more

Manchin Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Overhaul Federal Prison Oversight
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release: Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) introduced the Federal Prison Oversight Act, bipartisan legislation that would create a new oversight structure to ensure transparency, safety, and accountability in federal correctional facilities. "After serious reports of abuses, staff shortages, and dangerous conditions in federal facilities in West Virginia and across the country, it is time we bring much-needed transpare  more

Manchin Questions U.S. Defense, State, Commerce Secretaries on EV Supply Chains, Supporting Ukraine Against Putin's Invasion
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release on May 17, 2023: Yesterday, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, questioned U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. Senator Manchin questioned the witnesses on the Administration condoning continued U.S. reliance on Chinese supply chains for electric vehicles (EVs) and o  more

Manchin, Energy and Natural Resources Committee Clear Bipartisan America's Outdoor Recreation Act, Nuclear Fuel Security Act, Other Legislation
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release on May 17, 2023: The U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a business meeting to consider one pending nomination and pending legislation. The motion to report Mr. David Crane's nomination to be Under Secretary of Energy for Infrastructure at the U.S. Department of Energy resulted in a 13-6 roll call vote. The nomination will now move to the Senate floor for full consideration. The Comm  more

Manchin, Ernst, Shaheen, Moran Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Make Rural, Underserved Telehealth Flexibilities Permanent
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) reintroduced the Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act. This bipartisan legislation would ensure rural and underserved community healthcare providers can permanently offer telehealth services, including audio-only telehealth appointments, that are set to expire in December 2024. "Due to unreliable access t  more

Manchin, Scott Reintroduce Bill to Increase Credit Access and Financial Inclusion
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release on May 17, 2023: U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Tim Scott (R-SC), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, reintroduced the Credit Access and Inclusion Act to responsibly expand credit access for millions of Americans with limited or non-existent credit histories. This bipartisan legislation would permit property owners and utility and telecom providers to repor  more

New ED Regulations Fail to Protect Students, Taxpayers
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, chairwoman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement on May 17, 2023: * * * Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) issued the following statement slamming the Department of Education's regulatory package targeting career schools that limits students' choice, unfairly attacks proprietary institutions, and denies skills development to job seekers: "Today's announce  more

Ranking Member Capito Opening Statement at Permitting Hearing: Now is the Time to Fix the Broken System
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release: The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee held its second hearing of the year on the need to substantively reform America's broken permitting and environmental review processes. On May 4, Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced two bills to streamline the process for infrastr  more

Scott Receives Champion for Children Award
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, received the Champion for Children Award from the First Focus Campaign for Children for his leadership during the 117th Congress on issues impacting children. First Focus Campaign for Children specifically highlighted his work to expand access for affordable child care and improve access   more

Senate Energy Committee Chair Manchin: I Will Keep Pushing to Complete Last 20 Miles of Mountain Valley Pipeline
WASHINGTON, May 17 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following statement on May 16, 2023: * * * Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released the below statement following the U.S. Forest Service's approval for the Mountain Valley Pipeline to pass through Jefferson National Forest. "The Mountain Valley Pipeline is a crucial piece of energy infrastructure th  more

Senate Energy Committee Chair Manchin: New Guidance Rewards Chinese Control Over Solar Supply Chain
CHARLESTON, West Virginia, May 12 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following statement: * * * Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released the below statement following the release of guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury that would allow solar cells composed of Chinese materials to count toward an extra tax credit bonus under the Inflation Redu  more

Senate Environment Committee Ranking Member Capito Issues Opening Statement at Permitting Hearing: Now is Time to Fix Broken System
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following news release: The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee held its second hearing of the year on the need to substantively reform America's broken permitting and environmental review processes. On May 4, Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the Energy and Natural Resources C  more

Senate Environment Committee Ranking Member Capito Issues Opening Statement: WV Projects Facing Delays Due to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
WASHINGTON, May 17 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following news release: The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee held a hearing titled, "U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Proposed Fiscal Year 2024 Budget." Below is the opening statement of Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) as delivered. "Thank you, Chairman Carper. And thank you, Director Williams for being here. And tha  more

Senate Environment Committee Ranking Member Capito Presses Fish, Wildlife Service Director on Ending Project Delays, Reducing Backlogs
WASHINGTON, May 17 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, participated in a full committee hearing on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) 2024 budget. During the hearing, Ranking Member Capito questioned FWS Director Martha Williams about needed actions to pr  more

Senate Environment Committee Ranking Member Capito: Enforceable Deadlines Necessary to Avoid Agency Delays, Project Holdups
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, participated in a full committee hearing on the need to address America's broken permitting and environmental review system. During the hearing, Ranking Member Capito questioned federal witnesses about the be  more

Spanberger, Strong Work to Block Foreign Adversaries --Like the CCP -- From Buying U.S. Farmland
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on May 17, 2023: U.S. Representatives Dale. W Strong (R-AL-05) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) introduced the Protecting America's Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act. This bipartisan legislation would prohibit the purchase or lease of U.S. agricultural land by individuals associated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and other foreign adversaries -- including Iran, North Korea, and Russia. Ad  more

What They Are Saying: Support for Capito, Barrasso Bills to Reform Permitting & Environmental Review Process
WASHINGTON, May 17 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following news release: Recently, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee, introduced two pieces of legislation to substantively reform the nation's broken permitting and   more

Wittman Delivers Remarks on Accelerating Autonomy Technology Deployment Within DoD at Applied Intuition, Atlantic Council Nexus 23 Symposium
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Rep. Robert J. Wittman, R-Virginia, issued the following news release on May 17, 2023: Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01), Vice Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, participated in a discussion with Applied Intuition and Atlantic Council at the Nexus 23 Symposium. During his discussion, Congressman Wittman emphasized the importance of autonomous technology and systems in U.S. military operations, competing with the Chinese Communist Party, as well as Congress' role  more