Longtime coal industry supporter Capito has introduced HR 3684, the Listen to Americans First Act, which would prohibit the use of taxpayer dollars for any foreign travel by the federal agency until a public listening session is held in each of the 15 states that produced the largest amounts of coal-derived electricity last year.

The EPA has so far held 11 “listening sessions” as part of what it called a nationwide listening tour; however, many of them were held in places like Kansas, Massachusetts, Georgia and other areas far from the nation’s coalbeds.

Capito noted that none of the top 10 coal electricity generating states were on the list.

“It should go without saying that US government agencies should take the time to listen to Americans before they set off to travel the world,” she said.

“While the administration may think they can ignore the voices of heartland Americans, this important legislation will remind the administration that all Americans deserve a voice – not just those in cities such as San Francisco, Seattle and New York City.”

The legislator said she has repeatedly asked for the EPA and its leaders to make a stop in her state, West Virginia, but has been ignored, and called for the agency to listen to “West Virginia, not China”

“I am deeply disappointed in Administrator McCarthy for prioritizing traveling to Beijing over traveling to Beckley, Charleston, Madison or Moundsville,” Capito said.

“West Virginians and others living in coal-producing states work hard to provide our country with affordable energy, and they deserve the respect of at least being acknowledged by this administration.”

Last week, Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell – also angry over being ignored by the EPA with no stops within hundreds of miles of his coal-rich state – held his own listening session in the eastern Kentucky town of Pikeville. It is not known if Capito may do the same or similar in West Virginia.