February 09, 2018

MANCHIN VOTES FOR BIPARTISAN BUDGET AGREEMENT

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) voted in favor of a bipartisan budget agreement that includes funding for opioids, broadband infrastructure and the military.

“Early this morning, I voted for this budget agreement because I have been pressuring Congressional leadership to stop kicking the can down the road and provide long term funding for priorities important to West Virginia. I’m happy to say this budget agreement includes significant funding to end the opioid epidemic, invest in high-speed internet and broadband access throughout our state and to make sure our military has the resources they need to keep our country safe. This agreement also establishes a select committee tasked with finding a path forward to solving our pension crisis. In West Virginia we have nearly 87,000 coal miners that are facing uncertainty due to the impending loss of their hard-earned pensions.

“Bipartisanship isn’t always easy and we don’t always get what we want or need. I support today’s budget agreement because we need to invest $6 billion to fight the opioid epidemic, we need $20 billion to rebuild our infrastructure, and we need $4 billion to improve our VA hospitals and clinics. But this deal is not perfect. I remain very concerned about our country’s addiction to spending and our ever increasing debt, but I will not hold our military and these other important priorities hostage. 

“As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to work to make sure that Congress follows through on this deal, and that West Virginia gets what it needs to move our state forward.”

Read a full list of Senator Manchin’s priorities that were included in the budget agreement below:

  • $6 billion for the next two years to combat the substance abuse epidemic including enhanced state grants, with additional assistance for states with high mortality rates, public prevention programs, law enforcement activities related to substance abuse and mental health programs.
  • $20 billion for the next two years to invest in infrastructure including rural broadband, energy, surface transportation, clean and safe drinking water, rural water and wastewater and innovative capital projects.
  • $4 billion for the next two years to reduce the VA healthcare maintenance backlog.
  • The creation of a new Joint Select Committee to solve our country’s pension crisis including coal miners’ pensions.
  • Investment incentives to advance clean coal technology and mine safety.

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