Capito Honors Last Surviving World War One Veteran

Op-Ed

Capito Honors Last Surviving World War One Veteran

Rep. Shelley Moore Capito with Frank Buckles, of Jefferson County. Buckles is the last surviving veteran of World War One and was honored Wednesday at the US Capitol. Joining Capito at the ceremony were other members of the West Virginia Congressional Delegation and a bipartisan group of current and former Senate leaders.

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Congress made a number of important strides this week as we considered legislation to support West Virginia's military men and women, and finally passed legislation to update and modernize our nation's intelligence laws. Also, in what was a truly special ceremony, I had the opportunity to help honor and celebrate the accomplishments of one of West Virginia's greatest heroes, the last surviving veteran of World War I - Frank Buckles.

Lawmakers Honor Frank Buckles

Having been honored at the White House and at the Pentagon, Jefferson County resident Frank Buckles was honored at the US Capitol this week. Amidst the pomp and circumstance of a military honor guard, and the spotlight of the national media, Senate and House leaders had the opportunity to meet, thank and honor Mr. Buckles.

As Mr. Buckle's Congresswoman, it was an honor to participate in this ceremony. There's certainly no question that Mr. Buckles deserved it.

Support for Our Troops

The House also had an important moment of bipartisanship this week as we passed legislation to fund and support our troops on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan. The measure also included a long-overdue update to the Montgomery GI Bill that will provide full-tuition education benefits for our post-9/11 veterans.

Our military men and women perform honorably to provide our security, and these new education benefits will make sure they have opportunities for continued success after their service to our nation. The passage of this bill is great news for our service members.

Foreign Intelligence Laws Updated

After months of debate, the House this week also reached a compromise on legislation to update our nation's foreign intelligence surveillance laws. These laws provide our intelligence community with guidelines as they seek to protect us from terrorist threats.

While I'm glad that this bill has now passed, I remain frustrated that it took nearly 6 months and the expiration of the Protect America Act to get my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to act on this issue. Our intelligence officials deserve the tools and resources to do their job, and unfortunately, the delay tactics on this bill did them a disservice.

Energy

Of course, energy and high gasoline prices also remained a focus this week, as I continued to press for a comprehensive energy policy that takes advantage of our own domestic energy resources.

We must become more self-reliant when it comes to our energy, and I believe that means expanding our investment in renewable energy while also increasing our access to domestic sources of fuel - including oil in the outer continental shelf and in Alaska.

As always, please don't hesitate to contact my office if I can be of any assistance. It is an honor to serve you.

Sincerely,

Member of Congress

In Case You Missed It...

Shelley Moore Capito leads oath ceremony in Ripley
Parkersburg News and Sentinel
By CHRISTINA BRIGHT
June 15, 2008

RIPLEY — U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito attended Military Appreciation Day in Ripley Saturday where she led the oath re-affirmation of many new Army enlistees.

The event was kicked off with a welcome by Tom Reynolds, a Jackson County magistrate and Army veteran, who said the event was a celebration in honor of the Army's 233rd birthday and those who "answered the call of duty for this great country." He said soldiers are always "willing to put boots on the ground" to defend freedom.

Reynolds called it a privilege for the enlistees that they will leave training as soldiers and forever wear the banner of veterans.

His introduction was followed by an emotional invocation by David Fields who prayed for the safety of those in harm's way, the enlistees and the country. Shelly Harper then rode in on horseback, carrying the flag and singing "America, the Beautiful" and the national anthem.

Op-Ed: Highway System Key to Growing Economy
Roll Call
By Rep. Shelley Moore Capito
June 16, 2008

Few things are as vital to economic development as our nation's transportation infrastructure.

After all, businesses must have an avenue to efficiently receive raw materials and ship their products, while consumers inherently seek out goods to which they have easy access.

Yet many regions throughout the United States continue to suffer from a transportation infrastructure that lacks capacity and provides inadequate opportunities for growth.

With this in mind, a new highway bill could not be more important — particularly at a time when our nation's economy is experiencing a well-documented slow-down. For those of us from Appalachia, the prospect of new investment in our nation's highway systems is a welcome one.

To read this story in its entirety, click here. (Note: subscription required)

Capito Looks to Coal Liquids as Answer to Oil Dependence
The Intermountain
By GARY MALLONEE
June 18, 2008

U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-2nd District, told members of the Buckhannon Rotary Club Tuesday that the nation needs a long-term plan for decreasing its dependence on foreign oil.

"The major problem today is the gasoline prices," Capito said. "The prices are hurting people, especially those on minimum wage. The hardest hit are those in rural America."

The price of gasoline products is affecting everyone, she said, and the problem is a lack of motion in Congress to solve the problem.

"We need to address a long-range plan," Capito said. "We need to begin drilling and get away from outside dependence on crude oil."

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