WHEELING — U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said she witnessed the effects of the strong storm that hit West Virginia last week.

While she pledges to work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help victims of flooding and wind damage, she also believes Gov. Jim Justice needs to take the lead in making certain assistance comes to the state by obtaining a federal disaster declaration.

“It was quite a storm. I live in Kanawha County, and I saw the effects there,” Capito, R-West Virginia, said. “It was quite something in terms of wind speeds and destruction.”

She added she will always work with FEMA to achieve help for victims, but a federal declaration of disaster has to be declared before that can happen. The governor of a state requests such a declaration from the president.

“It is the state’s responsibility to help people get back on their feet, and I encourage them to move in that direction,” Capito said. “I do know the Red Cross has been working in the area. I encourage people who have been independently impacted to contact them.”

During her weekly virtual briefing with state reporters, Capito also was asked whether she thought the Biden administration or the Senate should investigate the acquisition of U.S. Steel by Chinese-owned Nippon Steel.

Capito noted that, in the past, she has expressed concerns about China taking over American businesses, and that “steel is no different.”

“Absolutely someone should look into this,” Capito said. “The Department of Justice has announced it will be doing a deep investigation.”

She acknowledged she hasn’t yet touched base with the agency on the issue.

“I will get back with them,” she continued. “I agree with the spirit in which they are moving so our steel industry doesn’t get in the hands of the Chinese.”

She also informed the press that the impeachment trial of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has been delayed in the Senate by one week.

“My position is we should have a full trial,” Capito said. “The House voted to impeach him on grounds that were developed in committee and vetted, and the House voted to move forward with the impeachment of an officer of the presidential cabinet.

“This is not unprecedented. What would be unprecedented is if we didn’t hear the case.”

She suspects Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-New York, will try to “short circuit” the trial, and Democrats will follow and table the motion “and we no longer get to hear a full trial.”

Capito’s briefing was briefly delayed as she watched the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida address a joint session of Congress.

“I wish every American citizen would sit down and listen to what he said about our country – how great we are, what a leader we are, that our preservation of democracy is unmatched,” Capito said. “But we need to keep going, and we have friends. We are not doing this alone. Japan is one of our strongest allies.”