Shelley Moore Capito

Election night

Shelley Moore Capito won: U.S. Senate, West Virginia.

Against Rachel Fetty Anderson (D) · Cook rating: Solid R

See the race

Stories

House passes SPEED Act: a hard turn toward faster permits—and a new fight over who gets to build

Rule Changes

Advanced the Senate permitting package past a 73-25 procedural vote on Nov. 9; amendment fight ahead

The Senate voted 73-25 on Nov. 9 to open debate on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, a permitting overhaul that would speed reviews for energy projects and make large data centers pay more for grid upgrades. It is not the House's SPEED Act, which passed in December 2025 and has sat in the Senate since.

Updated Yesterday

Senate committee advances 2026 water bill with new pipe-funding renewal

Rule Changes

Advanced her water bill through committee on July 15; the House passed its own version Sept. 16 and the two chambers are negotiating

The House passed its version of Congress's water bill on Sept. 16 by 415 votes to 9. The Senate committee version, which renews the federal loan funds behind local water systems, still has not reached the Senate floor.

Updated Oct 23

Who decides if a pipeline gets built?

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Supporting proposed rule

For 50 years, states have held veto power over pipelines, dams, and power plants crossing their waterways. On January 14, 2026, the EPA proposed a rule to prevent states and tribes from blocking federally permitted energy projects based on anything beyond direct water pollution.

Updated May 21