Shelley Moore Capito

01/23/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/23/2024 10:42

Capito Announces Resources for Public Health, Economic Development, AI Research, and Education in West Virginia

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Science Foundation (NSF), to support public health, environmental cleanup, infrastructure, research, and education programs in West Virginia.

HHS FUNDING: Senator Capito, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), announced resources from HHS to support health center clusters and Head Start projects in West Virginia.

"I am proud to secure resources that will help our children in West Virginia have as many opportunities as possible to begin their education at an early age and put them on a path to reaching their full potential. I am also glad to see important support coming to our state that will strengthen our local health centers as they provide high quality health services across West Virginia. As Ranking Member of the Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, I will always advocate for tools that will support more opportunities and better care for West Virginians," Ranking Member Capito said.

EPA FUNDING: Senator Capito, Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, also secured grants from the EPA that aim to support ongoing air quality and environmental cleanup projects across West Virginia.

"As the Ranking Member of the EPW Committee and a member of the Appropriations Committee, I work closely with the EPA to identify and support projects that aim to keep West Virginia a beautiful and healthy place to live. I was excited to bring these resources to our state to continue projects working to achieve that goal," Ranking Member Capito said.

DOE FUNDING: Senator Capito announced a grant from the DOE for programs that can create new products from legacy coal combustion residuals at decommissioning coal plants.

"These resources from the DOE can create new purposes for existing infrastructure at coal plants and can diversify West Virginia's economy for the future. I was happy to assist in securing this funding to set our state up for success," Senator Capito said.

NSF FUNDING: Senator Capito, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, announced a grant from the NSF to SOSTOS, LLC. to research the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in finding new drug options for improved survival outcomes in cancer treatments.

"We are just beginning to see the ways AI can revolutionize the economy and our everyday lives. I am excited to see how this research can discover new ways we can incorporate technologies like AI into health care and better serve people battling cancer. I'm eager to see how health care professionals in West Virginia can unlock AI's full potential in the future to treat patients," Senator Capito said.

Individual HHS award details listed below:

  • $1,499,261 in HHS funding to WomenCare, Inc. (Scott Depot, W.Va.) to support health center clusters.
  • $1,248,529 in HHS funding to Cabin Creek Health Systems, Inc. (Dawes, W.Va.) to support health center clusters.
  • $1,055,589 in HHS funding to Wirt County Health Services Association, Inc. (Elizabeth, W.Va.) to support health center clusters.
  • $1,002,444 in HHS funding to Lincoln County Primary Care Center, Inc. (Hamlin, W.Va.) to support health center clusters.
  • $1,332,083 in HHS funding to the Eastern Allegheny Council for Human Services, Inc. (Moorefield, W.Va.) to support Head Start projects.

Individual EPA award details listed below:

  • $500,000 in EPA funding to the WV DEP (Charleston, W.Va.) to implement air pollution controls throughout West Virginia to maintain public air quality.
  • $100,000 in EPA funding to the WV DEP (Charleston, W.Va.) to support the DEP's Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) program.

DOE award details listed below:

  • $100,000 DOE Grant to The Center for Applied Research and Technology, Inc.(Bluefield, W.Va.) to coordinate efforts with the decommissioning of coal-fired power plants, while also exploring options for developing building material components and other useful products made from legacy coal combustion residuals at nearby manufacturing sites.

NSF award details listed below:

  • $275,000 NSF grant to SOSTOS, LLC.(Morgantown, W.Va.) to support a project titled "SBIR Phase I: A web portal for artificial intelligence (AI)-based comprehensive discovery of repositioning drugs."

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