Click here to watch the full committee hearing.

BECKLEY, W.Va. — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today hosted Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the EPW Committee, for a field hearing in Beckley to examine the unique challenges that small, disadvantaged, and rural communities face in accessing and maintaining drinking water and wastewater services. Today’s field hearing is the first of a two-part hearing series. The second hearing will take place tomorrow in Dover, Delaware.

During the hearing, Ranking Member Capito and Chairman Carper questioned three West Virginia witnesses: Wayne D. Morgan, Executive Director, West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council; Todd Grinstead, Executive Director, West Virginia Rural Water Association; and Jason Roberts, Executive Director, Region 1 Planning & Development Council.

“Hosting today’s field hearing in Beckley gives our committee the opportunity to see and hear firsthand how communities are addressing their water and wastewater challenges,” Ranking Member Capito said. “I especially appreciate our expert West Virginia witnesses and their testimonies speaking to the needed investments in our water infrastructure and water workforce. The EPW Committee worked closely together earlier this year in passing the bipartisan Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act—legislation that addressed several of the issues brought up today. I’m hopeful that today’s hearing underscores the fact that the rural infrastructure needs of today—needs can be addressed with the bipartisan infrastructure package—cannot and should not be delayed.”  

“It’s great to be back in my hometown of Beckley to discuss something so essential—access to safe, reliable water infrastructure,” Chairman Carper said. “As we heard from Senators Capito and Manchin, as well as our excellent panel of witnesses, many small and rural communities face real challenges when it comes to keeping their water systems fully functional in the 21st Century. Earlier this year, Senator Capito and I wasted no time getting to work on drinking and wastewater legislation. Our bill became the foundation of the bipartisan infrastructure deal that we led passage of in the Senate. I’m confident we will soon get this bill signed into law and deliver much-needed infrastructure investments in West Virginia, Delaware, and communities across our country.” 

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