Press Releases
Manchin, Rockefeller Announce Funds for Natural Capital Investment Fund, Inc. to Support West Virginia Entrepreneurs
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Jay Rockefeller, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Finance, and Joe Manchin today announced $953,806 in federal funding for Shepherdstown's Natural Capital Investment Fund, Inc (NCIF) from the Department of Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI). "Having access to knowledgeable and certified financial assistance groups is vital for our communities," said Rockefeller. "NCIF has helped many West Virginia entrepreneurs build or … Continue Reading
August 16, 2012
Manchin, Rockefeller, Rahall Announce $30 Million for Pilot Manufacturing Program Which Will Include Four WV Operations
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin, as well as Congressman Nick Rahall, today applauded the Administration's announcement to provide $30 million in federal funding to create the nation's first manufacturing institute spread across three states, including West Virginia, to help strengthen America's manufacturing sector, make America more competitive, and invest in America's workers and businesses. The funding will be used to develop a national manufacturing pilot … Continue Reading
August 15, 2012
Manchin, Rockefeller Praise Significant Federal Grant for Health Sciences Research at WVU
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Jay Rockefeller, Chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, and Joe Manchin today praised the announcement of $19.6 million in federal funding for West Virginia University's (WVU) Robert C. Byrd Health Science Center from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This funding is a five year award to support the West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute. WVU is expected to hire 24 physician-scientists and 22 staff members as part … Continue Reading
August 13, 2012
Manchin Statement on the Passing of Mr. Shigeji Ikenaga
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) issued the following statement about the passing of Diamond Electric CEO, Mr. Shigeji Ikenaga. "Today, Gayle and I offer our deepest sympathy to the entire Diamond Electric family, which we consider part of our West Virginia family. I will always be appreciative of the kindness Mr. Shigeji Ikenaga showed me, Gayle and the entire West Virginia delegation when we met with him in Japan in 2005. I pray that you all may find comfort in … Continue Reading
August 10, 2012
Manchin, Bipartisan Congressional Delegation Ask Administration to Reverse FEMA Decision
Charleston, W.Va. - West Virginia's entire Congressional delegation joined U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today in a letter urging the President to reconsider FEMA's decision that denied individual assistance to residents after the recent June 29th storm. The Administration has previously approved only public assistance. "I join our Congressional delegation and Governor Tomblin to urge the President to reconsider FEMA's decision," Senator Joe Manchin said. "Against the odds, the people … Continue Reading
August 10, 2012
Manchin Statement on the Denial of Federal Individual Disaster Assistance Related to June 29th Storm
Washington, D.C.-U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) made the following statement today after learning of FEMA's decision to deny individual assistance to residents after recent storms. The Administration has previously approved only public assistance. "I am working with the members of our state's Congressional Delegation to urge the President to reconsider FEMA's denial of individual assistance to residents after recent storms. I am disappointed in FEMA's decision, but I am determined to … Continue Reading
August 09, 2012
Manchin, Rahall, Rockefeller Announce Federal Funding for Criminal Justice Efforts in West Virginia
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), along with U.S. Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin (both D-W.Va.), Thursday announced that West Virginia will receive more than $947,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to enhance forensic science and criminal evidence processing capabilities, support juvenile justice system improvements, and state and local delinquency prevention and intervention efforts. "Justice delayed is justice denied. Federal … Continue Reading
August 09, 2012
Manchin, Rockefeller Announce Funds for Community Health Centers in Wirt, Pendleton Counties
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Jay Rockefeller, Chairman of the Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, and Joe Manchin today announced two grants totaling more than $1 million for improving access and care at community health centers in Wirt and Pendleton Counties and helping to support health care jobs. "West Virginians deserve quality health care and community health centers are essential resources for so many people who would otherwise have trouble accessing or paying for care," said … Continue Reading
August 06, 2012
Manchin, Rockefeller, Rahall Announce $1.25 Million for Mine Safety Training
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin, along with Congressman Nick Rahall, today announced that $1.25 million worth of federal funding will be available for safety and health training grants to help identify and prevent unsafe working conditions in and around mines. The three Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants grew out of the MINER Act which Rockefeller co-authored and which Congress passed in 2006. "We need to do everything in our power to make mining safer than it … Continue Reading
August 05, 2012
Manchin, Rockefeller Announce Grant for Shepherd University to Help High School Teachers Learn About Appalachia
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin today announced over $99,000 in federal funds for Shepherd University that will help high school teachers learn more about Appalachian history, culture, and literature, which they will then be able to teach their students. These funds will cover a three-week seminar for 16 high school teachers who will come to Shepherd in July of 2013. The seminar will coincide with Shepherd's renowned Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) … Continue Reading
August 03, 2012
Senators fight to return mine land money to states
Washington, D.C. - A bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced legislation this week that would restore the money owed to coal producing states from the Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Trust Fund. In June, the House and Senate passed a two-year transportation bill which included a provision that raided trust funds used for reclaiming abandoned mine lands. The provision was inserted into the bill behind closed doors and without debate, hearings, or any input from the public, or the elected … Continue Reading
August 02, 2012
Senators Offer Bipartisan Bill to Force the Pentagon to Audit its Books
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a bipartisan effort to cut fat - not muscle - from the Department of Defense, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin joined an effort today to work with eight of his colleagues from both parties to finally audit the Pentagon. The "Audit the Pentagon Act" creates new incentives and enforcement mechanisms to force the Pentagon to conduct an audit. "I truly believe that the United States of America has - and must continue to have - the greatest military force in the world. But with our … Continue Reading
August 02, 2012
Manchin Introduces Measure to Strengthen Backup Electricity Generation in America
Washington, D.C. - As West Virginia continues to recover from the severe storms that swept the state earlier this summer, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) introduced an amendment today to the Cybersecurity Act of 2012 to ensure our nation's infrastructure has enough backup power. Senator Manchin's measure would require the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study to determine whether both public and private infrastructure have enough backup services to endure both natural and … Continue Reading
August 02, 2012
Manchin, Rahall, Rockefeller Announce Federal Funding for Transportation Projects in West Virginia
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) along with U.S. Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin (both D-W.Va.) Thursday announced seven highway and scenic byway improvement projects in West Virginia would be awarded more than $2.2 million in federal funding through the enactment of the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012. "Our scenic byways help bind important sectors of our growing tourism industry to promote small business jobs," said Rep. Rahall, the top Democrat on … Continue Reading
August 01, 2012
Manchin Announces West Virginia’s First Bipartisan Federal Fiscal Summit
Senator Manchin delivered a floor speech describing nation's need to come together around a solution to put our financial house in order At 4:30 p.m. today, Manchin, Bowles and Simpson to hold press conference call previewing the summit Washington, D.C. - In another bipartisan first for the state of West Virginia, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) announced today that he is hosting the state's first-ever bipartisan federal fiscal summit next month. Former Senator Alan Simpson, a … Continue Reading
August 01, 2012
Manchin Congratulates Mountain State University and University of Charleston for Coming Together
Washington, D.C. - After working with the leaders of both Mountain State University and the University of Charleston, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D- W.Va.) congratulated the educators' successful agreement to continue higher education in Beckley. The University of Charleston will take over the operation of Mountain State University effective January 1. "There is no finer testament to the emphasis on education, community, and public service than the efforts of these exemplary college … Continue Reading
July 31, 2012
Manchin on Federal Court’s EPA Ruling: ‘A Great Day for West Virginia’
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who led a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency when he was Governor, issued the following statement after the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled in favor of West Virginia. As Governor, Senator Manchin filed the first lawsuit against the EPA for overreaching its authority under the Clean Water Act. "What a great day for West Virginia. I'm pleased and gratified to hear that the federal court has ruled in … Continue Reading
July 31, 2012
Manchin, Rahall, Rockefeller Announce HUD Funding for Emergency Shelter Grants
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), along with Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin (both D-W.Va.), Tuesday announced that federal funding has been awarded to improve the quality and number of emergency homeless shelters in West Virginia. "What more powerful reminder do we need than Mother Nature's recent derecho that sometimes families, through no fault of their own, lose their homes," said Rahall. "Federal investments helping provide emergency housing make sense, … Continue Reading
July 27, 2012
Manchin Helps Dedicate Upper Big Branch Memorial
Whitesville, W.Va. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) helped dedicate the Upper Big Branch Memorial today, paying tribute to the miners who were lost and their grieving families while laying out his commitment to make sure no other family ever suffers from a preventable tragedy. "We gather today to remember the 29 brave souls who were lost at Upper Big Branch Mine, pay tribute to their families and dedicate this beautiful memorial for future generations as a testament to our shared … Continue Reading
July 27, 2012
Manchin Supports Governor Tomblin’s Request for Individual Assistance for Storm Victims
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) sent a letter to President Barack Obama today in support of Governor Earl Ray Tomblin's request for individual assistance for people in 24 counties affected by the severe storms that hit the state late last month. The declaration would help individuals and businesses pay for structural damage to houses and buildings, lost food, wages and medicine. "I personally visited an immeasurable number of individuals and business owners who were … Continue Reading
