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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today joined Bloomberg TV’s “Balance of Power” to discuss the Republican infrastructure framework she and her colleagues unveiled last week.
HIGHLIGHTS:
ALL PLAYERS INVOLVED: “I’ve been talking to the White House already today. I’ve been talking to colleagues on both sides of the aisle here, with my House colleagues. I think it’s really about getting the momentum and seeing the art of the possible. I’m encouraged by the early signs. Whether we can actually settle on a number, I have more confidence on that. The policies are a little bit hard I think in terms of what the set forth for the future.”
CRUCIAL COMMITTEE ACTION: “I’m working with Senator Carper right now. We’re going to have a water infrastructure package on the floor of the Senate this week, which is part of this bigger package. See how we do here. This should bode well. I think we will. And then we’re also working on the surface transportation part, which is another big chunk of infrastructure. So I’m working bipartisan through my committee. I have the five ranking members from the relevant committees here on the Senate side working with their chairman to try to work this through the committee so that every member has a chance to weigh in here. I think that’s critical as well.”
REACHING COMPROMISE: “We all know that the country wants to see us work together, wants to see us settle on something we’ve historically been able to reach compromise on and find a good pathway forward. I think people are anxious to see that. We’re anxious to see that. I don’t want to be overly optimistic here because it is a tough environment, but I’ll be anxious to hear what the president says in his State of the Union address on this very topic on Wednesday.”
SCOPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE: “We were very careful in the things we included as infrastructure, and broadband is absolutely essential. I’m in a rural state. I see everything that’s happened during the pandemic and before that, what a lack of broadband can do and how it can hold you back….Broadband is absolutely critical and key. We have ports. We have wastewater and water. We have safety. Airports is one we pretty much agree on. Our numbers are very similar there.”
LARGEST INFRASTUCTURE PLAN FROM REPUBLICANS: “It’s clear. It’s concise. And I think it represents the aspirations that we have that we can do a great infrastructure—this is the largest package we’ve ever put forward as Republicans. We have pay-fors that we think should be seriously considered. That pay-for issue is actually going to be the most difficult.”
BACKGROUND:
On February 11, Senator Capito met with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and other Senate infrastructure leaders at the White House to discuss the nation’s transportation and infrastructure needs. U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joined the meeting by phone.
Senator Capito’s full statement following that meeting can be found here.
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