Robert C. Byrd

My top priority continues to be West Virginia's economic renewal. I want to create new job opportunities for those who want to stay in their native West Virginia, and to provide richer, fuller lives for their children.

I have been successful, through my position as the senior member on the Senate Appropriations Committee, in funding many important infrastructure projects for our state, including monies to assist in the completion of the Appalachian Development Highway System. This first-rate, modern highway system is an essential pathway for prosperity in economically challenged regions. It provides for a freer flow of commerce, and safer and more modern alternatives to what have been among the most dangerous roads throughout the state. Transportation has always presented special and costly challenges in West Virginia, and so I have also sought to improve our air and mass transit systems, as well as our locks and dams along our navigable rivers, and flood control projects.

I have also focused on obtaining funds to locate federal agencies and offices in West Virginia -- matching the needs of the federal facilities with the attributes offered by West Virginia. When I have learned that federal agencies had particular needs, I have urged them to look at West Virginia and see if there might be a site that would meet their criteria. A few of those matches have included the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division in Harrison County, the Coast Guard's National Maritime Center in Berkeley County, and the Customs and Border Protection's Advanced Training Facility in Jefferson County. By bringing these federal facilities to our state, I have sought not only to provide good paying federal jobs, but also to help build our state's technological and economic base, and to attract private-sector firms that would do business with these federal facilities, thereby, creating even more jobs and opportunities.

Additionally, I have helped our state's colleges and universities to obtain federal funding for a myriad of projects and research initiatives, including those fostering advancements in health care, energy, forestry, transportation, manufacturing, the environment, and forensic science. I have supported programs at these institutions of higher education that will help to train our state's workforce to participate in the new industries and fields becoming available in West Virginia.

Throughout my career, I have worked with state and local officials in identifying needs throughout the state and matching federal funding to those needs in order to create jobs and revitalize communities. Downtown revitalization efforts, projects that benefit low or moderate-income neighborhoods, renovations of historic buildings, local infrastructure improvements, and development of public parks and facilities are but a few examples of my efforts to strengthen the quality of life for the many diverse communities throughout the state.

Also, I have worked hard over the years to match the needs of the Department of Defense with the capabilities of companies located in West Virginia. As a result of those efforts, today, many companies in West Virginia are building assemblies for military aircraft; building national defense weapons systems and components; developing unique materials for Department of Defense applications; improving military readiness through technology; improving government access to, and analysis of, critical information; and supporting priority homeland security and Global War on Terrorism missions.

My goal is to give initiatives in West Virginia a chance to succeed and thrive, within the laws and regulations governing government contracting. West Virginia’s sons and daughters proudly serve in our nations’ military. That call includes not only the men and women in uniform, but also the people who are committed to supporting roles and ensuring that our troops have the resources that they need to get their jobs done and return home safely. I am proud of West Virginia’s contributions to our national defense effort.

I am so fortunate to have been elected to serve the people of West Virginia. Throughout my career, I have worked hard to earn and retain that special trust, and to do all I can to improve the economic opportunities for all West Virginians.