WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee released its draft funding bill for Fiscal Year 2027. Advocates from Appalachia and Reps. Carol Miller and Riley Moore have advocated for $250 million in funding to be included in the bill for drinking and wastewater infrastructure improvements in West Virginia.

That money was not in the bill.

“We are deeply disappointed that the subcommittee did not include the funding for Southern West Virginia communities as requested by Reps. Carol Miller and Riley Moore,” said Appalachian Voices Government Affairs Specialist Quenton King. “But our fight is not over. We will continue to advocate for amendments throughout the legislative process to ensure meaningful progress is made toward addressing the coalfield water crisis. We urge Sens. Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice, and Reps. Moore and Miller to continue fighting for the southern coalfields.”

The subcommittee is scheduled to meet tomorrow May 21 to consider amendments to the bill and vote to advance it to the full committee. The full House Appropriations Committee, of which Moore is a member, is scheduled to meet on June 3 to further amend the bill and report it out to the full House. Timing for the floor vote in the House is uncertain, but it will provide another opportunity for amendments to the bill.

The Senate has not yet announced its timeline for the consideration of its FY27 funding package.

“The continued lack of clean, safe drinking water in many Southern West Virginia communities is a public health crisis,” stated WV Rivers Coalition Policy Specialist Maria Russo. “Denying this funding ignores the very real burden communities are forced to carry every single day. Families across nine counties are reporting skin rashes, cancers and water that stains their clothing and household appliances. Their water at home, whether from a well or public water system, is not something they should have to fear.”

Two weeks ago, more than 40 organizations signed a letter addressed to House and Senate appropriators with an overview of some of the water challenges facing West Virginia and the need for federal investments.

“The federal government needs to get its priorities straight,” said Appalachian Voices Director of Government Affairs and Strategy Chelsea Barnes. “We don’t need a golden arch, a blue reflecting pool or a billion-dollar ballroom; we need clean, safe water.  At a time when costs are high, too many West Virginians are paying for water that makes them sick or spending hundreds of dollars on bottled water, or both.”

WV Rivers Coalition, Appalachian Voices, From Below and advocacy groups throughout West Virginia will continue to push for this funding through the amendment process.

“Every West Virginian, as well as allies from across the country, should contact their leaders and ask them to amend the draft funding bill to include an earmark for West Virginia, especially for communities in the southern coalfields who have powered this nation,” said WV Rivers Coalition Communications Manager Maggie Stange.

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