Shelley's Weekly Update - August 4, 2013

Statement

Dear Friend,

It has been a busy week for Congress. We passed legislation to rein in the federal government, stop government abuse and take the politics out of student loan rates. I also worked with Representatives McKinley and Rahall to introduce legislation that will protect health care provisions and pensions that are impacted by Patriot Coal Company.

Bipartisan Student Loan Solution Heads to President Obama

I am proud to be a part of a bipartisan effort to pass a permanent, market-based solution on student loans. As parents who have put three children through college, my husband and I are fully aware of how difficult it is to pay for higher education. Now that student loan rates will be based on the free-market rather than the political winds of Congress, students and families will finally get the certainty they need. It is encouraging that the Senate finally put partisan bickering aside and joined the House in putting students and families ahead of Washington politics.

West Virginia Delegation Stands Up for Patriot Coal Retirees

I introduced H.R. 2918, the Coal Mine Health Care and Pension Protection Act of 2014 with Representatives David McKinley, Nick Rahall and 14 bipartisan colleagues last week. The bill would protect health care provisions and pensions that are impacted by Patriot Coal Company. We have worked diligently together to craft legislation that addresses the most pressing issues retirees are facing as a result of Patriot Coal Company's bankruptcy. These hardworking coal miners have dedicated their lives to providing electricity to the Mountain State and building its economy, and we can't let them down. I will continue to fight for our coal miners and the retirees whose benefits are at risk.

Reining in the Federal Government

I joined the House in passing H.R. 1582, the Energy Consumers Relief Act and H.R. 367, the REINS Act. I am a cosponsor of both bills that rein in government regulations and provide for greater transparency. The Energy Consumers Relief Act serves as a check on the Environmental Protection Agency by providing for greater transparency, interagency review, and oversight of the agency's most expensive energy rules. It would also protect Americans from the president's war on coal by requiring that new billion-dollar regulations face a greater scrutiny.

The REINS Act would require any regulation with a cost of over $50 million to be approved by both houses of Congress before it becomes effective. This would end the administration's ability to issue expensive regulations, like the Greenhouse Gas Standards, that would never be approved by Congress.

Stopping Government Abuse and Preventing the IRS From Implementing ObamaCare

Over the past couple of months, the federal government has proven itself to be untrustworthy. Whether it is the IRS targeting people for their political beliefs, the Department of Justice punishing dissenting reporters, or the Benghazi scandal, this administration has let the American people down. I was proud to support legislation that prevents the IRS from implementing ObamaCare and holds Washington accountable. Americans deserve a federal government that works for them, not against them.

It is an honor to serve you.

Sincerely,

Shelley Moore Capito
Member of Congress

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