Letter from Shelley
Friends and Colleagues,
As we begin the holiday season, the House is busy working to wrap up its business before the end of the year. This week we held a committee hearing to look into housing issues for homeless veterans. We also held a vibrant debate about energy legislation. Last week – when I was home in West Virginia – I had the opportunity to meet with a number of local leaders in Hurricane.
Congressional Hearing on Housing for Veterans
As members of our armed services continue to serve admirably in harms way, it’s important that we ensure that they have the support they need when they return home. With that goal in mind, the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity held a hearing to discuss the housing needs of our nation’s low-income veterans.
We heard from a number of witnesses from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Housing and Urban Development about ways to help fight homelessness among low-income service veterans. It is apparent that with the growing number of veterans returning from the Global War on Terror that we will need cooperation between government agencies to ensure veterans have access to the benefits they have been promised. As the Ranking Member of the Housing Subcommittee, I look forward to further opportunities to help make these agencies more efficient in providing services.
Energy Bill
This week also brought heated debate in the House about our nation’s plan for energy independence. With gas prices on the rise, it’s vital that we set forth an energy policy that helps lower our dependence on foreign sources of energy.
Unfortunately, the bill before the House this week fell short of this goal and would lead to increased energy costs in states like West Virginia. By focusing exclusively on issues of energy conservation and efficiency, the legislation fails to promote coal and other domestic sources of energy and new technologies that allow for cleaner usage of fossil fuels that are so important to any move toward energy independence.
Meeting in Hurricane
Last week I had the pleasure of meeting with the Hurricane Mayor Scott Edwards and a number of other local leaders over breakfast.
We talked about the importance of economic development and the regulatory issues related to future growth. Putnam County is a growing part of our state and it was a great opportunity to learn about the innovative ways they are dealing with growth and development. It was also clear that local leaders have taken a strong stand in the war against drugs. I really appreciated the opportunity to spend time with them and look forward to our continued work together.
Sincerely,
Member of Congress
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Capito Speaks of Need for Energy Independence
WASHINGTON, December 6, 2007 – Rep. Capito speaks Thursday on the House floor during debate over proposed energy legislation. The Congresswoman spoke of the need for an energy policy that promotes cleaner fossil fuels in the quest for energy independence. To watch her statement in its entirety, click here.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...
Capito joins effort to help wounded soldiers get pay
Charleston Daily Mail
Jake Stump
December 7, 2007
Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., has joined a fight in ensuring wounded soldiers receive their bonus pay.
The congresswoman this week sent a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates inquiring about reports of wounded service members being asked to return enlistment bonuses after combat injuries cut short their tours of duty.
Capito said she first learned of the issue through one of her colleagues, Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pa., who introduced legislation guaranteeing wounded soldiers would get their bonuses.
"He (Altmire) became aware of a constituent who had to leave the armed forces, and they prorated him for the time he didn't complete," Capito said. "The reason was because he was wounded. That screams of unfairness."
Capito said she was not aware of any wounded soldiers in West Virginia facing that dilemma, though it's possible.
Her letter to Gates requests that he correct the situation.
"I think it's very poor policy that's sending the wrong message to our soldiers," she said. "I'm asking the secretary if this is actual policy or if there's an explanation. I can't imagine there would be."
The pending legislation, titled the Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act of 2007, contains more than 200 co-sponsors, including Capito. The bill assures that all soldiers get their signing or enlistment bonus even if they disconnect from service before a full tour of duty.
Under the act, any service member owed a bonus but forced out of service due to a combat-related injury would be entitled to the lump some of his or her bonus within 30 days of separation from military service.
Last month, Altmire held a press conference with one of his constituents, U.S. Army Spc. Robert Kaminski, who lost a leg and suffered a traumatic brain injury in Iraq.
"Hard as it may be to believe, the Department of Defense has been denying injured servicemen and women the bonuses that they qualified for," Altmire said last month.
To read the full text of this story, click here.
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