February 15, 2019

Manchin Applauds Appropriations Deal With Border Wall Funding And West Virginia Priorities

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) applauded the spending deal announced today which included $1.375 billion for a border wall and $1.7 billion for border security and humanitarian aid. 

“I’m glad Republicans and Democrats have come together on these six appropriations bills and that the President has indicated he would sign them in order to avert another government shutdown. The $3 billion for border security is desperately needed to secure our border. These bills also include critical funding to fight the opioid epidemic, expand rural broadband, secure Amtrak service in West Virginia and move forward on implementing Skylar’s Law. Although it took us a long time to get here, I’m glad we’ve finally passed these bills, avoided another harmful government shutdown and funded the border wall and border security,” Senator Manchin said.  

To read a full list of Senator Manchin’s priorities click here. Below are some of the top priorities Senator Manchin fought to include in these funding bills: 

  • Opioids: Prioritizes aid to rural areas with the highest rates of addiction like West Virginia.
  • Border Security: Funds the President’s request for construction of the wall. 
  • Skylar’s Law: Encourages the Department of Justice to establish a National Endangered Missing Person Advisory Network that will enable immediate public notification regardless of evidence of abduction.
  • Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge: Encourages U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services to consider and prioritize Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for Canaan.
  • Amtrak: Requires Amtrak to justify decisions that jeopardize the future of the annual New River Train.
  • FBI Police: Requires a report on the retention rate and pay of FBI police, while encouraging the Director to make pay and benefits for the FBI Police equivalent to other federal police divisions.
  • Rural Transportation: Fully funds the Essential Air Service program and encourages the Federal Highway Administration to prioritize critical roads in the Appalachian Development Highway System like Corridor H.
  • Rural Broadband: Provides significant funding to the USDA for their rural broadband loan and grant programs and helps to support NTIA’s effort to improve national broadband coverage maps.
  • Water Infrastructure: Supports nearly $4 billion in appropriations toward water infrastructure.  

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