CHARLESTON, W.Va. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $400,000 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) to West Virginia University (WVU) Research Corporation. This funding will support an occupational health and safety training program in Appalachia.

“It’s great to see this funding coming into West Virginia to strengthen our medical capabilities, especially during a time when our medical professionals need our full support,” said Senator Capito. “This funding will provide safety and health training and other services, which will help improve the work environment in Appalachia. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to continue to provide the resources our medical institutions need to properly train staff and keep West Virginians healthy.”

“West Virginia’s healthcare professionals have been working around the clock to care for their fellow West Virginians with COVID-19 and they need our help. This funding will provide training for our medical workers to ensure they are safe in their work environments, but they need more than just training. I have fought for additional funding for rural hospitals and healthcare providers and will continue to advocate for dedicated funding to help our front line workers and our rural hospitals in the next COVID-19 relief package,” said Senator Manchin.