May 15, 2018

Manchin Condems House for Not Passing Resolution to Rename the Huntington VA After Woody Williams

Washington, D.C. – As the one-year anniversary of introducing the resolution approaches, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) condemns the House of Representatives for not passing a resolution to rename the Huntington VA Medical Center after Hershel “Woody" Williams.

“Woody has dedicated his life to public service, and he has represented the state of West Virginia with the utmost honor and distinction for almost 100 years. It is only fitting that a West Virginia VA Medical Center be named to honor the service and sacrifice of Medal of Honor recipient and West Virginia icon, Woody Williams. That’s why I condemn the House of Representatives for not passing my resolution to rename the Huntington VA Medical Center after him. It only took four months to pass the resolution in the Senate and it’s been sitting in the House ever since and no one can give me a reason why. This is one of the many reasons why people hate Washington. This is a commonsense, non-controversial resolution that has been sitting in the House for nearly 9 months. It’s unacceptable and the House should be ashamed that they are denying a World War II hero, Medal of Honor recipient and Gold Star Families’ advocate this great honor,” Senator Manchin said.

Senator Manchin introduced the resolution on May 18, 2017. The resolution passed the Senate on September 7, 2017 by unanimous consent and has been held up in the House of Representatives ever since. In April, Senator Manchin urged the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN) and the Ranking Member Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN), to pass the resolution. 

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