VOTING RESOURCE PAGE

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed every aspect of our daily lives, including how Americans and West Virginians will be able to vote this year. The 2020 election is quickly approaching and West Virginians need access to accurate, reliable information on how to vote during these unprecedented times. This week I launched a voting resource page that compiles accurate facts on how to register to vote, polling locations, requesting an absentee ballot and more. Every eligible West Virginian should exercise their right to vote and have their voice heard this fall.

To view the voting resource webpage please click here.

2020 CENSUS

Visit our 2020 Census page on our website.

The deadline to respond is now September 30, 2020.

If we don’t respond to the Census, we will miss out on important federal funds that make our communities stronger. Every person in West Virginia that does not respond to the Census equates to $20,000 lost in federal funds for West Virginia and our communities over the next ten years. If 100 people do not respond, that's $2 MILLION lost in federal funds to West Virginia over the next ten years. We simply can’t afford that. So please, Be Counted and respond to the census today by visiting: 

2020census.gov 

or call 844-330-2020.

BROADBAND

Take a Speed Test Here.

The sad fact is that many places in West Virginia simply do not have access to reliable broadband and the lack of access affects West Virginians every day. Back in 2015, the FCC released a coverage map that stated 99.9% of Americans had wireless coverage. I knew then what I know now: That is just plain wrong.

That’s why I’m asking all West Virginians to submit your internet speed-tests, so we can prove to the FCC that our broadband coverage is well below the stated coverage. So far, your efforts have helped the FCC acknowledge that our providers are overstating their coverage, but we must continue to show where and how widespread the lack of broadband coverage is in West Virginia.

HOW MAY WE HELP YOU? 

To request assistance from my case team, click here.

As your U.S. Senator, I am proud to be your voice with government agencies during your time of need. My goal is for me and my staff to provide the best possible customer service for every West Virginian who contacts me needing assistance. While I have no direct jurisdiction in legal or administrative matters of any federal, state, or local agency, I welcome the opportunity to assist you in any way possible and to assure that full consideration is given to your case. See one of our success stories below:

Travis Eye, of Harman, had been denied VA health care because he was over the income threshold. He was in combat and felt he should be entitled to coverage. Travis contacted Senator Manchin about this matter and as a result of Caseworker Angie Walsh's inquiry, Mr. Eye was approved for coverage.

From the Hill to the Mountains

MANCHIN STATEMENT ON COURT DECISION TO REVERSE POSTMASTER GENERAL DEJOY'S PARTISAN POLICY CHANGES
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) released the following statement on the Eastern Washington U.S. District Court decision to temporarily block Postmaster General DeJoy from making policy changes ahead of the 2020 election and require decisions made under Postmaster General DeJoy to be reversed, including decisions to decommission critical mail machines and equipment.

“I am pleased with the U.S. District Court’s sound decision to temporarily block the changes made by Postmaster General DeJoy in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and a few months before the 2020 election. I have always been in favor of running our agencies with fiscal responsibility but not at the expense of the vital lifeline the Postal Service provides. These services cannot be interrupted and it’s clear these sudden changes are motivated by partisan politics. With this decision by the District Court, I urge the Postmaster General to immediately reinstate the critical mail machines that were taken offline at the South Charleston Postal Service Processing and Distribution Center so that West Virginians and five other states can get their mail, including their Social Security benefits, their medications, and their election ballots, on time. The American people deserve to have a functional Postal Service they can rely on to get them their mail without political meddling. I will continue monitoring the critical machines in Charleston until they are up and running again and will fight to keep our Postal Service running for all Americans,” said Senator Manchin.

WV CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION URGES HHS TO MAKE CHANGES TO OPIOID TREATMENT POLICY
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), along with U.S. Representatives David McKinley (R-WV-1), Alex Mooney (R-WV-2), and Carol Miller (R-WV-3) yesterday sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma calling for immediate action to address a decision by CMS that could negatively affect access to treatment for opioid addiction. This action comes as West Virginia continues to battle both the COVID-19 public health emergency and the ongoing opioid epidemic.

MANCHIN STATEMENT ON BECKLEY VAMC DOCTOR'S GUILTY PLEA
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) released the following statement on Dr. Johnathan Yates pleading guilty to three counts of depriving Veterans of their civil rights by sexually abusing them under the guise of legitimate medicine. This plea is the result of the Beckley Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) investigation.

“Today’s hearing is an important step towards justice for those Veterans who were sexually assaulted by Dr. Johnathan Yates during their visits to the Beckley VAMC. My heart goes out to those affected by his disgusting actions and I hope him pleading guilty brings peace of mind and some sense of closure to our Veterans, their families, and loved ones. It is unacceptable that these atrocious actions ever occurred. Our Veterans deserve world class healthcare and should never have to question their safety with a healthcare provider. As a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, I will not stop pushing the VA until we determine how these criminal actions were allowed to continue for so long and ensure it will never happen again,” said Senator Manchin.

MANCHIN DEMANDS ANSWERS ON VA DATA BREACH AFFECTING MORE THAN 60,000 VETERANS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS
Washington, DC – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), led nine Senators in demanding answers from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) following a recent data breach that compromised 46,000 Veterans’ personal information. VA officials informed the Senate and House Committees on Veterans Affairs that approximately 17,000 VA community care providers were also impacted by the cybersecurity breach.

MANCHIN, CAPITO ANNOUNCE RURAL HOUSING PRESERVATION GRANTS IN WEST VIRGINIA
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $185,185 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Housing Preservation Grant program for three locations in West Virginia. These rural development investments will be used for the repair and rehabilitation single-family homes for individuals in West Virginia. 

MANCHIN QUESTIONS NNSA, DOD ON KEEPING NUCLEAR WEAPONS SPENDING UNDER CIVILIAN CONTROL
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), questioned witnesses from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and Department of Defense (DoD) on nuclear weapons spending decisions being kept within civilian control through the Department of Energy (DOE) to ensure unbiased allocation of nuclear deterrence resources.

MANCHIN, CAPITO ANNOUNCE $10.4 MILLION IN USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOANS IN WEST VIRGINIA
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $10,492,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Rural Development Loan program for four locations in West Virginia. These funds will be used for a variety of projects across the state to increase economic development and access to business capital.

MANCHIN, CAPITO ANNOUNCE $824K FOR SCHOOL SAFETY MEASURES IN GRANT, POCAHONTAS, UPSHUR, AND MARSHALL COUNTIES
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $824,774 from the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) for safety measures in Grant, Pocahontas, Upshur, and Marshall county schools.

MANCHIN PRESSES ADMINISTRATION TO PROTECT ACCESS TO SAFE, AFFORDABLE MEDICINE FOR LOW-INCOME WEST VIRGINIANS
Washington, DC – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) pressed Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to respond to recent changes by drug companies to restrict access to the 340B Drug Pricing Program for safety net health providers.

The 340B Drug Pricing Program was created in 1992 to mandate drug companies who participate in the Medicaid program provide discounted drugs to certain healthcare providers that serve vulnerable populations. The 340B program provides much needed savings to health providers to stretch scarce federal resources as far as possible, allowing more patients to access affordable medication. The savings are passed on to patients through low-cost drugs and expanded access to essential patient care.

Energy Committee News

MANCHIN: PENDLEY SHOULD NOT CONTINUE TO LEAD THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Washington, DC –  U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, delivered remarks on the Senate floor urging William Perry Pendley to step down or Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt to remove him from his role leading the Bureau of Land Management. Last month, Senator Manchin led the entire Democratic Caucus in calling for Pendley’s removal.

MANCHIN QUESTIONS NOMINEES ON FERC’S ROLE IN ENSURING “RELIABLE, DEPENDABLE AND AFFORDABLE ENERGY”

Washington, DC –  The U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing to consider the nominations of Ms. Allison Clements and Mr. Mark C. Christie to be Members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Ranking Member of the Committee, highlighted the importance of a fully seated FERC and expressed his support for the bipartisan pairing of nominees to fill its two vacancies.

“I am pleased that the President has kept with longstanding tradition and sent us a balanced, bipartisan pairing. First, because I think it is critical that we fill the two vacancies on the Commission and return to a fully seated FERC, and second, because I think both of these nominees are very well qualified for these important jobs and should enjoy bipartisan support,” Ranking Member Manchin said. “When Congress established the Department of Energy and put most energy functions in the hands of the Secretary of Energy, it wisely insisted that the regulatory and ratemaking authorities of the former Federal Power Commission remain in the hands of a five-member commission. Collectively, five commissioners will always bring to the table more wisdom, more knowledge, more life experience, and more diverse views than the wisest, most knowledgeable, and most experienced energy czar we could ever find.”