Press Releases
Manchin Statement on Fed Chair Nominee Janet Yellen Committee Vote
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today issued the following statement on why he did not vote for Federal Reserve Chair nominee Janet Yellen in the Senate Banking Committee. "After meeting with Federal Reserve Vice-Chair Janet Yellen to discuss her views on how to best grow our economy and balance our budget, hearing her testimony before the Senate Banking committee, and discussing monetary policy with experts, I cannot support her nomination to be Chairwoman of the … Continue Reading
November 21, 2013
Manchin, Rockefeller, Rahall Announce More Than $1.5 Million for Community Health Centers in W.Va.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - On National Rural Health Day, Senators Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller, along with Congressman Nick Rahall, today announced more than $1.5 million in federal funding for two community health centers in West Virginia. The facilities set to receive funding are Community Care of West Virginia in Rock Cave and Williamson Health and Wellness Center. The funding will help these community health centers strengthen and expand their health and wellness services, and begin to service … Continue Reading
November 20, 2013
Senator Manchin Announces New State Leadership Team
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today announced the new leadership team for his state operations. A native of West Virginia, Mara Boggs will return home to serve as state director. Mara is a graduate of Keyser High School and West Virginia University. She is also an Iraq combat veteran, serving 13 years of active duty in the United States Army prior to coming to Capitol Hill, where she served as Senator Manchin's Chief of Operations and a senior policy advisor for … Continue Reading
November 19, 2013
Manchin, Rockefeller, Rahall Announce USDA Funding Awarded for Housing Programs in Southern West Virginia
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller, along with Rep. Nick Rahall (all D-W.Va.), announced Tuesday the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has awarded funding to rehabilitate housing owned and occupied by low-income families in southern West Virginia. "We should do all we can to care for our neighbors who are in need and make sure those struggling have the necessary resources to get back on their feet," Manchin said. "These important programs … Continue Reading
November 14, 2013
Manchin Proud of Industrial Investment Announcement to Build First Cracker Plant in West Virginia
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) issued the following statement today in regards to the announcement the Brazilian company, Odebrecht, has the option to purchase land in Wood County to explore industrial opportunities, including the potential to build West Virginia's first cracker plant: "With our state's continued development of natural gas drilling, I am extremely pleased that Governor Tomblin has announced that the Brazilian company, Odebrecht, is interested in … Continue Reading
November 14, 2013
Manchin Testifies at House Hearing in Support of Legislation to Rein In EPA's Proposed Standards
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today appeared before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Energy and Power to testify in support of his draft legislation with Representative Ed Whitfield (R-KY). The bill, which addresses the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed greenhouse gas emission standards for coal-fired power plants, would protect Americans' access to reliable and affordable electricity by ensuring that regulatory standards are based on … Continue Reading
November 14, 2013
Manchin, Rockefeller Announce Funding for Braxton County Head Start Program
WASHINGTON D.C.- Senators Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller today announced more than $531,000 in federal funding for the Braxton County Board of Education to improve and support their Head Start Program "When we talk about what we value as West Virginians and as Americans, we need to choose our priorities based on our values," said Senator Manchin."That means keeping our promises to those who matter the most to us, and our children should be at the top of that list. I am pleased that this … Continue Reading
November 11, 2013
Senator Manchin Encourages Us All to Honor Our Veterans Today and Everyday
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today released the following statement on Veterans Day: "The sacrifices and patriotism of the men and women who have served this country know no bounds. They have served with unparalleled honor and distinction. It doesn't seem right that our nation pays our brave veterans tribute only once a year. We should thank our veterans every day for their unwavering devotion and passion to the greatest country in the world. Fortunately, America has … Continue Reading
November 07, 2013
Manchin Announces Bill to Improve Job Opportunities for Veterans
Washington, D.C. - As Veterans Day approaches, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), along with his Congressional Veterans Jobs Caucus co-chairs, Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Representative Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) and Representative Tim Walz (D-Minn.), introduced the United We Stand to Hire Veterans Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill that would streamline and consolidate duplicative government job portals to better connect current and former members of the Armed Services with employment … Continue Reading
November 07, 2013
Manchin Says Heritage Area Bill Will Strengthen Tourism, Economic Opportunities in WV
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Joe Manchin today said legislation he introduced will strengthen tourism in West Virginia and Maryland by securing federal funding for existing National Heritage Areas in Wheeling and in southern West Virginia, while creating a new one in the state's eastern mountains, as well as the Mountain Counties of Maryland. The West Virginia National Heritage Area Act of 2013, co-sponsored by Senators Jay Rockefeller, Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin, supports continued … Continue Reading
November 07, 2013
Senators Manchin and Kirk Introduce Legislation to Delay Individual Mandate Penalty
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today introduced legislation to delay the implementation of the individual mandate under the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" from January 1, 2014 to January 1, 2015. The bill would eliminate the $95 penalty that will go into effect in 2014 under current law. "Since the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010, there have been many identifiable problems exposed in the law that need to be addressed," Senator … Continue Reading
November 06, 2013
Manchin Statement After Meeting With Federal Reserve Vice-Chair Janet Yellen
Washington, D.C. - Following his meeting with Federal Reserve Vice-Chair Janet Yellen, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) issued the following statement. "I had a very productive and honest meeting today with Federal Reserve Vice-Chair Janet Yellen on how best to grow our economy as well as the lessons we learned from when we last balanced our budget. I conveyed to her my concerns that community banks be treated fairly as we finalize Dodd-Frank regulations, but also the need to implement … Continue Reading
November 06, 2013
Manchin Seeks to Redefine Full-Time Employee to Expand Access to Health Coverage
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today sent a bipartisan letter to Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray and Ranking Member Jeff Sessions asking them to address legislation he cosponsored, the Forty Hours is Full Time Act (S.1188), in their budget conference. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) also signed the letter. The senators cited the need for a sensible definition of "full-time employee" under the Patient Protection and … Continue Reading
November 06, 2013
Manchin Cosponsors Bill to Guarantee Individuals Can Keep Existing Health Plan
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) has cosponsored a bill with Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) to ensure individuals can keep their existing health insurance plans and prevent insurers from cancelling coverage. The "Keeping the Affordable Care Act Promise Act" will require insurers to provide a detailed notice and explanation to policyholders before cancelling coverage. This legislation will also provide individuals with information from their insurance provider on parts of the … Continue Reading
November 06, 2013
Manchin Supports Legislation to Lower Taxes on Hard Cider Products and Increase Farmers' Sales
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today announced that he cosponsored the CIDER Act (Cider Investment and Development through Excise Tax Reduction Act) to modernize the definition of cider in the Internal Revenue Code to increase the allowed alcohol by volume in cider beverages from 7 percent to 8.5 percent and to allow the use of pears as well as apples. The alcohol content of hard cider fluctuates greatly due to sugar content, and current law often forces these products … Continue Reading
November 06, 2013
Manchin, Rockefeller, Rahall Announce Mobile Health Clinic for Veterans in Mercer County to Open in 2014
Washington, D.C. - Senators Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller, along with Congressman Nick Rahall (all D-W.Va.), today thanked the Beckley Veterans Affairs Medical Center, which officially announced that Mercer County's new mobile health clinic will begin to serve patients in early 2014. The mobile outpatient clinic will help the growing number of veterans in the area access needed primary medical services. "Our veterans deserve access to the best treatment and care that is available," Senator … Continue Reading
November 04, 2013
Senator Manchin Announces State Director Departure
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today announced that his long-time State Director Kelley Goes will be leaving her position to become a member of the prestigious law firm, Jackson Kelly. "It is difficult to imagine my Senate office without Kelley Goes, who is truly a one-of-a-kind public servant. Since my first days in the Senate, Kelley has served as my State Director, a job that made her my eyes and ears back home and my go-to person on every issue affecting the … Continue Reading
October 29, 2013
Manchin Statement on Consol Energy Announcement to Sell Five Coal Mines to Murray Energy
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) issued the following statement on CONSOL Energy's announcement to sell five West Virginia coal mines to Murray Energy Corporation. The five mines affected are Blacksville No. 2., Loveridge, McElroy, Robinson Run and Shoemaker. "Throughout the many years that I've worked with CONSOL Energy, they have always been an industry leader in mine safety as well as a community-minded company that has continued to reach out to our hardworking miners … Continue Reading
October 29, 2013
Manchin Proud to Stand in Support of Miners at Capitol Coal Rally
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) rallied with West Virginia coal miners and workers from the mining, manufacturing, labor and construction industries at the American Energy Jobs Rally in Washington to fight for America's energy sector and our nation's hardworking coal miners. "Coal miners are some the bravest and most patriotic men and women I have ever met in my life and it is always an honor to stand side by side with our hardworking miners, especially during … Continue Reading
October 28, 2013
Manchin, Rockefeller Announce Funding for Efforts to Combat Substance Abuse
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller today announced $733,068 in federal funding for community organizations across the state to prevent and reduce substance abuse among youth in West Virginia. The funding comes from the Office of National Drug Control Policy's (ONDCP) Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant program with support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). "In West Virginia and across this country, substance abuse has become … Continue Reading