WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Tom Carper, D-Del. Today marked one-year since Shelley Moore Capito (R.W.Va.) and Thomas Carper (D.Del.) were elected Ranking Member and Chairman, respectively, of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Capito reflected on a successful year at the helm EPW.
“Native-born West Virginians, Chairman Carper and I make a great team and I have thoroughly enjoyed working together to help lead our EPW Committee. It’s only been a year since we took over this committee together and we have achieved unprecedented victories for the American people. Most notably, our committee’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure legislation and surface transportation legislation were both included in the final bipartisan infrastructure package, which is now law. This is proof of our strong partnership and the results that can occur when we and our staffs work together in a bipartisan way to put the needs of the American people first—a goal that both Chairman Carper and I share. It is an understatement to say that we accomplished a lot in our last year together, and I look forward to many more ways to work together in 2022,” Ranking Member Capito said.
“When I took the gavel as Chairman of EPW, I wanted to lead this committee in a bipartisan, collaborative way to pass legislation that helps the American people and protects our environment. I also wanted to bring a focus on climate and equity to the center of all of our work,” Chairman Carper said. “The first week as Chair and Ranking Member of EPW, Senator Capito and I met with President Biden to talk about the need for bipartisan water and transportation infrastructure legislation. We knew we could lead the EPW Committee in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure legislation, as well as a reauthorization of surface transportation. Our bipartisan efforts have resulted in historic infrastructure legislation, which is being implemented across the country every day, helping to deliver cleaner water and safer roads for the American people. I’m grateful for my partnership with Senator Capito in this extraordinary achievement, and I know that we will have many more bright days to come, working side by side.”
Under The first year of Ranking Member Capito and Chairman Carper’s leadership, the EPW Committee reported positively and confirmed 14 nominees. They also held 31 hearings, seven business meetings, and a total of 31 hearings..
CapitoAnd Carper successfully passed a surface transportation reauthorization in record time—the fastest that the committee has ever reported a surface transportation authorization—and drinking water and wastewater infrastructure legislation, which included the first reauthorization of the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund at increased levels since 1987. EPW’s Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act and Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure ActThese were the foundations of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs ActSenate passage was made possible by historic bipartisan legislation created by Capito, Carper.
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