Photo by Joselyn King U.S. Sen. Shelley Capito, R-W.Va., left, speaks with Rhododendron Girls State Governor Mariah Daffron of Harpers Ferry at West Virginia Rhododendron Girls State Monday at Wheeling Jesuit University.

WHEELING — U.S. Sen. Shelley Capito, R-W.Va., learned Monday she has inspired at least one young woman to strive to achieve.

Capito, West Virginia’s first female U.S. senator, on Monday addressed Rhododendron Girls State taking place this week at Wheeling Jesuit University, telling participants the best government incorporates the ideas of both men and women from all walks of life and political beliefs.

Following Capito’s speech, 2017 Girls State governor Mariah Daffron made the effort to find and reach out to Capito in the hallway at Swint Hall.

“I just find you so real and so truthful,” she told Capito. “You always seem so positive. You’re really an inspiration to us. Thank you.”

Daffron, a recent graduate Jefferson High School in Harpers Ferry, will attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla. this fall on a full scholarship. A member of her high school’s Air Force ROTC program, Daffron will be commissioned as a second lieutenant after college graduation.

Capito said she wants to inspire youths to be the leaders of tomorrow.

“I try to tell them to have faith in our country and political system, and that women are very underrepresented,” she said. “As the first woman senator (for West Virginia), I consider it a legacy issue for me that young women become involved and seek higher office.”

Capito takes her program “West Virginia Girls Rise Up” to elementary schools, where she talks to girls on the topics of leadership, confidence, education and physical health.

“Why is it more important we have more female leaders?” she asked. “Studies show we work better. We’re more bipartisan. We negotiate. We don’t take as long, and we get on each other’s bills. It’s important in this stagnated time that we try and seek consensus whenever we can.”

Capito headed on to Washington Monday, where Senate members will begin consideration of a health care reform bill already passed by the House.

The Affordable Care Act enacted under the Obama administration “is not working for a lot of people,” Capito said.

Many of those subscribing to policies offered under the system are dropping this coverage, forcing a lot of insurance companies to leave and no longer provide coverage through the government system.

Capito also has strong concerns about the government maintaining some aspects of coverage under the expansion of state Medicaid systems.

Medicaid presently pays for the treatment of those with opioid and drug abuse addictions, and there are many in West Virginia and elsewhere in the nation in need of this treatment, she said.

“The main thing for us is to cover people with pre-existing conditions,” she said. “That’s been one of the most popular parts of the ACA, and we need to make sure we are following through with that.”