J.J.

Office of U.S. Senator Sean Stevens, West Virginia Quarter 3, 2017 Senator Stevens Releases Appalachian Renewal and Opportunity Act WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Senator Sean Stevens has released the Appalachian Renewal and Opportunity Act to bring economic aid and assistance to West Virginia's poorest and rural communities, lifting thousands of people out of poverty. Senator Stevens has secured a promise from Senate Majority Leader Diego Everhart to bring the legislation up for debate before the full Senate. Senator Stevens will be working hard to secure bipartisan support for the legislation and to eventually get it to the President's desk for signature. This legislation aims to provide assistance to coal miners and promote economic development in rural areas, particularly in Appalachia, including West Virginia. This law helps coal miners, spurs new energy jobs, aids high-poverty rural areas, and improves rural schools. It creates a program giving healthcare, education aid, and income assistance to coal miners. It funds grants for energy companies to develop wind, solar, and other projects creating jobs in coal communities. The law designates high-poverty rural areas as "Opportunity Zones" eligible for tax credits for business investments. It also establishes grants for repairing rural schools, providing classroom technology, and funding teacher recruitment. The coal industry and corporate fees will help pay for these programs aiding distressed Appalachian regions.

-Placeholder-

Sen. Sean Stevens, Democrat from WV Name: Sean Stevens Seat: West Virginia, Class 1 Party: Democrat Avatar: Al Gore Major Caucus: Blue Dog Coalition Gender: Male (0 points) Age: 71 years old, born February 12, 1946 (-10 points) Sexuality: Straight, married with two children (0 Points) Race: White (0 points) Religion: Mainline Protestant Educational History: College degree at a public university (0 points) Socioeconomic History: Working Class (10 points) Timeline: Graduated from West Virginia University (1968) Married Tricia Peterson; fathered John Stevens (1968) Completed the U.S. Marine Corps Officer Candidates School (1969) Commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps (1969) (10 points) Deployed as part of Operation Dewey Canyon during the Vietnam War (1969) Fathered Ashley Stevens (1970) Promoted to First Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps (1971) Promoted to Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps (1973) Promoted to Major in the U.S. Marine Corps (1978) Deployed as part of Operation Urgent Fury (1983) Awarded Silver Star Medal for recovering Captain Timothy Howard from crash in Grenada (1984) (10 points) Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps (1984) Promoted to Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps (1990) (20 points) Retired from U.S. Marine Corps (1990) Elected to Congress, Representing West Virginia's 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House in competitive redistricting race (1992) Began term as U.S. Representative (1993) (3 points) Began second term as U.S. Representative (1995) (3 points) Lost gubernatorial campaign to Cecil Underwood (1996) Began third term as U.S. Representative (1997) (3 points) Began fourth term as U.S. Representative (1999) (3 points) Elected following a successful gubernatorial campaign (2000) Began first term as 33rd Governor of West Virginia (2001) (20 points) Declined reelection, lost presidential campaign in Democratic primaries (2003-2004) Elected and began serving as Chair of the West Virginia Democratic Party (2005) [5 points]* Chaired Senator Obama's West Virginia presidential campaign (2008) [5 points]* Appointed to continue U.S. Senator Robert Byrd's term following death (2010) Elected in West Virginia's Special Election to replace Senator Robert Byrd, finish his term (2010) (5 points) Elected to first full term as a U.S. Senator from West Virginia (2012) Began first term as U.S. Senator from West Virginia (2013) Total points spent: 87