April 23, 2019

Manchin Announces More Than $1.7M In Rural School Payments | The Beckley Register-Herald

U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), announced Thursday many counties throughout the state will receive a total of $1,778,953 though the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program.

The rewards will allow for $172,953 to be used in Greenbrier County, $34,635 in Monroe County and $51,413 in Nicholas County. 

“Senator Manchin pressed United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service Chief Victoria Christiansen about the lapsed SRS payments to 14 West Virginia Counties during last week’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing,” a press release from Manchin’s office reported. 

Manchin said the 14 rural counties depend on the SRS payments as they set their budgets. 

“While it’s unacceptable the payments have lapsed this long, I am relieved the Forest Service has responded to my continued urging and finally issued these overdue payments,” he said. “I hope they will work with us in the coming months to find a long-term solution that provides our counties the financial stability they deserve.”  

In January, Manchin urged U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and then Acting Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt to deliver SRS payments as quickly as possible following the government shutdown, according to officials who work for Manchin.

Then, in February he introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the SRS program. 

Individual awards by county include:  

  • Barbour — $9.31
  • Grant — $35,255.41
  • Greenbrier — $172,953.33
  • Hampshire — $4,471.98
  • Hardy — $76,462.81
  • Mercer — $92.89
  • Monroe — $34,635.66
  • Nicholas — $51,413.62
  • Pendleton — $225,565.28
  • Pocahontas — $487,426.36
  • Preston — $7,105.26
  • Randolph — $335,374.72
  • Tucker — $135,647.26
  • Webster — $198,529.95

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By:  Jordan Nelson