MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Congressman Riley Moore reports nine Community Project Funding requests from the Second Congressional District have passed out of the House Appropriations Committee. The measures are part of the Fiscal Year 2027 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.
On MetroNews “Talkline,” Moore said appropriations bills take on new significance in a midterm election year. There was plenty of politics and some last-minute maneuvering, but in the end the bill passed, and about $10 million is coming to the state for infrastructure projects.
“Per the usual because the margins are so tight in the House, it was a little touch and go on the floor for a second,” Moore said. “But, of course, we did what we always do and that’s figure it out at the last minute and pass the bill.”
The projects include $1.4 million for Moundsville water systems improvements, $1.15 million to make repairs and upgrade the Buckhannon Water Treatment Plant & Distribution system, $1 million to upgrade the water treatment and distribution system in the Union Williams PSD Water System, $1 million for Berkeley Springs Water Works in the town of Bath, $1 million for the Greater Marion PSD Sanitary Sewer, $1 million for the sanitary sewer system in Worthington, $1 million for the Baker, Hardy County PSD Secondary Water Source, $1 million for wastewater extension for the Aerotech Business Park in Bridgeport, and about $1 million for the Grandview-Doolin / Wetzel County Interconnection to ensure adequate water supply for customers.
“Unfortunately, now in an election year we’re not getting that bipartisan support,” Moore said. “Even though they have equities and interest in that bill and also projects as well- I guess politics is politics.”
The House also passed the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2027, which includes about $3 million more for important local infrastructure initiatives.
“One of them is $2 million for a Clarksburg Public Safety Complex, which certainly is going to be critical for them,” Moore said. “And about $1 million for Doddridge-Ritchie County 911 operability and enhancement.”
An effort that failed was to win $250 million for water projects in the southern part of the state, including McDowell County, according to Moore. The request was pared back to $50 million and backed up with water samples demonstrating the need but still rejected.
“My folks back home can’t get $50 million to clean up water that is deadly down there, and you want $9 billion for Ukraine—no, I’m not voting for that,” Moore said.
The legislation will come back to the floor, and there will be opportunities to make an additional attempt to get funding included for the water systems of the coalfields. Moore said the state delegation from both chambers will work to secure the funding as the measure continues moving through the process.
“I know Carol is looking at this, I know I’m working on this, and Senators Justice and Capito are working on this,” Moore said. “This bill will have to go to the floor, and we’re going to keep trying to get some amount of money inserted in there to address those issues down there.”