Press Releases
Manchin Introduces UMWA President to Testify Before Senate Finance Committee
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) introduced Mr. Cecil Roberts, the President of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), to the Senate Finance Committee today. He testified to the importance of the Miners Protection Act, legislation to ensure the federal government and coal operators honor their obligation of lifetime pensions and health benefits to retired miners and their families who are facing uncertainty as a result of the financial crisis and corporate … Continue Reading
March 01, 2016
Manchin Introduces Five Amendments to Improve Comprehensive Opioid Legislation
Washington D.C. - Today U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) introduced five amendments to the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2015 (CARA), bipartisan legislation to address the opioid epidemic nationwide. His amendments improve this legislation by raising funding for substance abuse treatment, changing the culture at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), requiring the FDA to seek advice of its advisory committee before approving any new opioid medication, making prescriber education … Continue Reading
February 24, 2016
Manchin and Capito Announce $800K for WVU Scientific Research and Education Programs
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) today announced a total of $800,000 to West Virginia University from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support research and education programs in the environmental engineering and health chemistry fields. These grants will allow the University to continue making advancements in science and engineering and developing the knowledge and cutting edge technologies necessary to grow the state's economy and … Continue Reading
February 24, 2016
Manchin Disappointed in Senate Confirmation of Dr. Califf as FDA Commissioner
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today expressed his disappointment in the Senate's confirmation of Dr. Robert Califf to be the next Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner. "The fight I led against Dr. Califf was not personal. It was a fight to change the culture of the FDA starting from the top," Senator Manchin said. "I still believe that we must act now to change the culture at the FDA if we have any hope of stopping the prescription drug abuse epidemic that is … Continue Reading
February 23, 2016
Manchin Statement on President's Plan to Close Guantanamo Bay
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today released the following statement on President Obama's plan to close the Guantanamo Bay facility. "After leading a bipartisan fact-finding mission to Guantanamo Bay in 2014, I came to the belief that the detention facility there should be shut down because it does nothing to make our country safer and costs us millions in tax dollars. In 2015, American taxpayers spent $445 million to operate the facility, which now houses 91 detainees. … Continue Reading
February 23, 2016
Manchin, Capito Urge Circuit Court to Block EPA Attempt to Transform the Nation’s Electricity Sector
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) filed an amicus brief today in the case of State of West Virginia, et al. v. Environmental Protection Agency, et al. The effort led by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senate EPW Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-OK), House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and House Energy and Power Subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield (R-KY) garnered support from 34 Senators and 171 … Continue Reading
February 22, 2016
Manchin, Markey Discuss Opposition to FDA Nominee Dr. Robert Califf
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) held a press conference today to discuss their opposition to Dr. Robert Califf to become the next Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Senators were joined by leading law enforcement officers and medical and public health leaders in calling for reforms at the FDA to respond to the prescription drug and heroin crisis, including West Virginians Rodney Miller, Executive Director West Virginia … Continue Reading
February 18, 2016
Manchin Announces Job and Resource Fairs Throughout West Virginia
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today announced that he will cohost job and resource fairs throughout the state. Senator Manchin is partnering with Volunteer West Virginia, Wheeling Jesuit University, High Technology Foundation, WorkForce West Virginia, Logan, Marion, Morgantown and Harrison Chambers of Commerce, American Public University, Pierpont Community and Technical College, Fairmont State University, and West Virginia University, the Upper Big Branch Miners Memorial … Continue Reading
February 15, 2016
Manchin Statement on Senate's Constitutional Obligation to Vote on Supreme Court Nominee
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today issued a statement on the Senate's constitutional obligation to vote on a Supreme Court nominee. "I believe that the President should nominate and the Senate should follow its constitutional obligation and advise and consent on the nomination. We have a responsibility to the American people to fulfill our duties. I will evaluate any nominee before the Senate based on their qualifications and judicial philosophy. I would hope that … Continue Reading
February 11, 2016
Manchin Bill Demands FDA Address Opioid Epidemic
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today introduced the Changing the Culture of the FDA Act, a bill to expand the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) mission statement to require that the agency address the nation's opioid epidemic. Senator Manchin believes that the FDA plays a critical role in the growing opioid epidemic since the agency oversees the approval of dangerously addictive drugs. However, to date, the agency has failed to consider the devastating public health … Continue Reading
February 10, 2016
Manchin, Capito Congratulate West Virginia's Top Youth Volunteers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) today congratulated Sofia Salon, 16, of Daniels and Arin Dorsey, 13, of Fayetteville, on being selected as West Virginia's state honorees and the top two youth volunteers in the 21st annual Prudential Spirit of Community Award. The nationwide program honors middle school and high school students for their exceptional service at the local, state and national levels. "I have always said that West Virginians are … Continue Reading
February 09, 2016
Manchin Statement on Supreme Court Decision to Block EPA Clean Power Plan
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today issued a statement after the Supreme Court ruled it would block the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) carbon rules for power plants while the courts consider a legal challenge from states and industry groups. "Today's Supreme Court ruling sends a strong signal to the EPA that it must stop ignoring the damage its regulations are causing to our energy sector, our economy and our way of life in West Virginia. I have made it clear that … Continue Reading
February 04, 2016
Manchin Appreciates but Not Impressed by the FDA Decision to Slightly Improve Response to Opioid Epidemic
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today was encouraged by the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) decision to slightly improve the agency's response to the opioid epidemic; however, he continues to believe that sweeping changes are necessary. The FDA changes include convening an advisory committee for opioids without abuse-deterrent properties and for pediatric indications, considering the public health impact when approving highly addictive and dangerous opioid medications … Continue Reading
February 02, 2016
Manchin, Capito Announce More Than $1.8 Million for West Virginia Head Start Programs
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) today announced a total of $1,838,642 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) for Head Start programs in West Virginia. This funding will allow the Eastern Allegheny Council for Human Services Head Start in Hardy County and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR) to continue providing critical health, nutrition, … Continue Reading
January 29, 2016
Manchin Statement on Right-to-Work Legislation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today released the following statement on the Right-to-Work legislation currently under deliberation in the West Virginia State Legislature. "During my time as Governor of West Virginia, and now your Senator, I never had a single company tell me that it would relocate to our great state if only we would pass 'right-to-work' legislation. Simply put, this is a partisan bill that will do nothing to create jobs in West Virginia. During these … Continue Reading
January 29, 2016
Manchin Bill to Cut Government Waste Signed Into Law
Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, President Obama signed into law Senator Joe Manchin's (D-WV) bipartisan bill to save taxpayer dollars by providing additional oversight over federal grant programs. The Grants Oversight and New Efficiency (GONE) Act, which was reintroduced by Senator Manchin and Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) last April, will require agencies to close out expired grant accounts with zero dollar balances and undisbursed funds remaining. These expired accounts cost taxpayers … Continue Reading
January 29, 2016
Manchin Outraged by Study Finding Most Opioid Overdose Patients Continue to Receive Opioid Prescriptions
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) released a statement on a recent study published by the Annals of Internal Medicine that found over 90 percent of the 3,000 chronic pain patients included in the study who had survived an opioid related overdose between 2000 and 2012 continued to receive opioid medications from their doctors. The results of the study, conducted by researchers at Boston Medical Center, are alarming considering the prescription drug epidemic in America and the … Continue Reading
January 29, 2016
Manchin and Capito Congratulate Town of Rainelle for Winning Local Foods, Local Places Competition
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) announced that the town of Rainelle in Greenbrier County has been selected as one of six communities nationwide to win the federal Local Foods, Local Places competition. The competition, hosted by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of … Continue Reading
January 27, 2016
Manchin Will Filibuster FDA Nominee Robert Califf for Big Pharma Ties
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced today that he will filibuster the Obama Administration's nominee, Robert Califf, to be the next Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because of his strong ties to the pharmaceutical industry. Senator Manchin believes that, with his long-term, significant ties to the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Califf is not the champion the FDA needs to tackle this deadly epidemic, especially given the FDA's failure to … Continue Reading
January 27, 2016
West Virginia Delegation Sends Letter to Surface Transportation Board Opposing Norfolk Southern Takeover
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today joined Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Representative Evan Jenkins (R-WV) and Representative David McKinley (R-WV) in sending a letter opposing Canadian Pacific Railway's plan to acquire Norfolk Southern. The letter, sent to U.S. Surface Transportation Board Chairman David Elliot, Vice Chairman Ann Begeman, and board member Debra Miller, details the potentially devastating impact the merger would have on West Virginia's economy and … Continue Reading
