On the Road

Veterans Day 2018

This weekend, I celebrated Veterans Day with a group of our nation’s bravest men and women in Huntington. We will always be grateful for their service and I appreciate the opportunity to honor our West Virginia Veterans.

 

Senator Manchin celebrates Veterans Day at Ritter Park in Huntington.

Senator Manchin celebrates Veterans Day at Ritter Park in Huntington.

 

Skype with Weir High School

It's always a pleasure to speak with our future leaders about the issues that matter in their communities. Thank you, Weir High School students for your excellent questions!

Senator Manchin Skypes with Weir High School students from Washington, D.C.

 

"Joe Too Cool to Smoke" Campaign

My Regional Coordinator for the Northern Panhandle, Mary Jo Guidi, attended the unveiling of "Joe Nailer Too Cool to Smoke," a figure representing an excellent anti-smoking program with the prestige of the Wheeling Nailers hockey team.  As Governor, I was proud to help launch this campaign which serves to educate our state's youth about the dangers of tobacco use. I appreciate Dr. William Mercer and all who have helped the program flourish throughout the years.

 Mary Jo Guidi attends the launch of "Joe Nailer Too Cool to Smoke."

Spotlight 

Service Academy Nominations Announced

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 It is such an honor to recommend 38 of West Virginia’s brightest young men and women to the U.S. service academies. All of our students worked hard to earn these nominations and are determined to serve our country. Many are also striving to carry on their families’ proud military heritage. Today, I join all West Virginians in congratulating these hardworking and committed students, because a nomination to one of our elite service academies will develop these young men and women to become our next generation of military leaders.

Click here for the full list of students.

 

 

In Your Community

Annual Fall WorkForce Job Fair

 

Beckley VAMC Mobile Clinic to Visit Wyoming County

The Beckley VA Medical Center’s Mobile Medical Unit will be visiting Wyoming County Friday, November 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Cook Memorial Baptists Church. The address is WV-10, Pineville, W.Va. 24874.

Enrollment specialists will answer any questions pertaining to the Veterans Health Administration and complete enrollments at the site. Flu shots for eligible Veterans will also be offered. The Beckley VAMC welcomes any Veteran to have their questions answered in person.

 

Veterans Table Program

The Mountaineer Food Bank hosts their Veteran Table food box distribution in partnership with the Clarksburg VA Medical Center on the 3rd Friday of every month at the Freedom Shelter at the VA Park in Clarksburg from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. There are no income guidelines required, you only need to be a Veteran. 

The Mountaineer Food Bank will also be providing CSFP food boxes (senior food box) for those who are 60 years or older and who meet income guidelines.

 

Applications Now Open for Community Revitalization Program

WV Community Development Hub Searching for Towns to Participate in Blueprint Communities Program 

Communities across the central and northwestern part of the state have the opportunity to become a designated Blueprint Community. Teams who take on this initiative work collaboratively to define a community revitalization strategy that invites public and private investment to their community, and receive the training, coaching, and connection to resources needed to implement those strategies. 

Applications open October 31, 2018 and are due December 21, 2018.

Blueprint Communities is a collaboration between the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh and the West Virginia Community Development Hub. Fifteen communities across West Virginia have participated since the start of the program in 2007. Past participants have utilized this initiative to form collaborations in their community that have grown into nonprofits and local development authorities. Past participants have also used their final plans to showcase the specific opportunities and efforts in their community, which incentivized public and private investment.

Communities can learn more about eligibility and application details by visiting http://wvhub.org/what-were-doing/blueprint-communities/

 

FMCSA Military Driver Programs

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is proud to help experienced military drivers transition to commercial driving careers. 

Below are FMCSA programs that make it easier, quicker and less expensive to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL).

  • The Military Skills Test Waiver Program exempts qualified military drivers from having to take the CDL skills test. More than 23,000 service members and veterans have taken advantage of this exemption. 
  • The Even Exchange Program (or Knowledge Test Waiver) allows for qualified military drivers to be exempt from the knowledge test. When the exemption is used in conjunction with the Military Skills Test Waiver, this allows a qualified military driver to exchange his or her military license for a CDL.  
  • The Under 21 Military CDL Pilot Program will soon launch. This study research program will assess the safety impacts of allowing qualified military drivers younger than 21 to operate CMVs in interstate commerce. 
  • The Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training Grant Program assists current or former members of the United States Armed Forces (including National Guard and reserve members) and their spouses in receiving training to transition to the motor carrier industry.  

More information on these FMCSA military driver programs is available on the website.

 

 

 

To learn more, call my office Toll Free at (855) 275-5737, email me,or find me on social media:

             

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