December 19, 2016

Manchin Announces $87 Million in West Virginia Flood Assistance

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today announced $87,280,000 of funding for West Virginia flood relief efforts as part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) Program. This funding is in addition to the $17 million Senator Manchin announced in October bringing the total funding to $104 million through CDBG-DR.

“This funding is a much needed boost for the West Virginia families that are still recovering from the June flooding,” Senator Manchin said. “This funding will provide assistance as our communities rebuild, schools repurchase desks and textbooks and families bind together to create new homes. In the months following the June flooding I have made rehabilitating the impacted communities one of my highest priorities. In the past six months, I have sent letters to President Obama, Secretary Castro and others. I have spoken directly to the President's Chief of Staff, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Senate Leadership to ensure they understood the need facing West Virginia. I am grateful that this vital assistance is on the way, and I will continue working every day until all of our neighbors are back on their feet.”

On June 25, 2016, Senator Manchin sent a letter to President Obama for the first time in support of Governor Earl Ray Tomblin’s request for additional federal disaster funding following the June 23rd flooding. On June 28, 2016, Senator Manchin sent President Obama a second letter supporting Governor Tomblin’s request for additional federal disaster assistance. On September 13, 2016, Senator Manchin sent a third letter to President Obama reinforcing the need for federal disaster assistance following the flooding. On October 6, 2016, Senator Manchin sent U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro a letter further reinforcing the need for disaster assistance in West Virginia.

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