July 12, 2024

Manchin Secures West Virginia Priorities, Over $55 Million In Congressionally Directed Spending In Bipartisan Appropriations Bills

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (I-WV), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured a number of West Virginia priorities in the markup of three bipartisan appropriations bills, which included the Fiscal Year 2025 Legislative Branch; Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA); and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs funding bills. The Senate Appropriations Committee continues to work through the remaining nine funding bills, which will hopefully be voted on by the full Senate later this year.

These three funding bills included critical priorities that Senator Manchin championed, including combatting the drug epidemic, supporting the West Virginia National Guard and Veterans and boosting nutrition programs statewide. They also included $55,502,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) requests, or earmarks, for 14 West Virginia projects.

“I am pleased that the Committee has kicked off the FY25 appropriations process by unanimously advancing three bipartisan bills that provide funding to many top priorities in West Virginia. These bills also include more than $55 million in dedicated funding for critical West Virginia projects like building a new fire station in Moorefield, constructing a health and fitness facility in Welch, and supporting the critical operations of the West Virginia National Guard. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am committed to bringing back regular order, doing our job, and passing funding bills on time to deliver crucial resources to West Virginia,” said Senator Manchin.

West Virginia priority highlights:

  • Renovating the Woody Williams Committal Shelter: Includes $5 million to enclose committal shelters, including the one located at the Donnel Kinnard Veterans Cemetery in Dunbar, fulfilling West Virginia Medal of Honor recipient Woody Williams’ final request.
  • Combatting the Drug Epidemic: Provides $713 million for opioid prevention and treatment programs through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and includes language reflective of Senator Manchin’s FREED of Opioids Act, requiring the FDA to study the problematic methods the FDA uses to approve opioids.
  • Advancing Appalachian Agriculture: Provides robust funding for West Virginia food production and research, including $800,000 for the Appalachian Fruit Research Station in Kearneysville, and includes language directing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to examine how to prevent surpluses of apples in West Virginia.
  • Expanding Access to Veterans’ Healthcare: Includes language requiring VA medical centers to reduce barriers to accessing healthcare for Veterans in rural areas.
  • Boosting Nutrition Programs: Provides full funding for critical nutrition programs long championed by Senator Manchin, including $123.2 billion for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and $7.69 million for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
  • Expanding Rural Broadband Coverage: Provides $135 million for the Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband Program, which facilitates Broadband deployment in rural areas like West Virginia.

A full list of West Virginia priorities can be found here.

Senator Manchin also secured $55,502,000 in CDS requests in these funding bills. The Senate Appropriations Committee allows members of Congress to submit CDS requests, which provide opportunities for state and local governments, non-profits, and other public entities to receive targeted funding for projects that bolster their communities.

West Virginia CDS highlights:

  • $32 million to support the Army National Guard’s 130th Airlift Wing’s facilities in Charleston.
  • $6.9 million to construct a new fire station in Moorefield.
  • $4 million to support the West Virginia National Guard’s readiness center in Bluefield.
  • $1.2 million to maintain an Army National Guard training center at Camp Dawson-Kingwood.
  • $1 million to replace the outdated and undersized firehouse in Ravenswood.
  • $675K to establish a new community health and fitness facility in Welch.

A full list of West Virginia CDS projects can be found here.