|
MANCHIN, CAPITO ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $14.1 MILLION TO HELP VACCINATE WEST VIRGINIA CHILDREN
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $14,193,577 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) provide children across West Virginia with access to vaccinations.
"As we continue to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and work to quickly procure vaccinations for every West Virginian who wants one, it is essential to keep vaccinating our children against other harmful diseases," said Senator Manchin. “I am pleased HHS is working with DHHR to provide access to vaccinations for every child and family across the state. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for funding that ensures every child in the Mountain State has access to the healthcare they need and deserve."
MANCHIN VOTES TO MOVE FORWARD ON BUDGET AND COMMITS TO BIPARTISAN PROCESS FOR FINAL COVID RELIEF PACKAGE
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) released the following statement on his decision to vote to move forward with the budget resolution.
"I will vote to move forward with the budget process because we must address the urgency of the COVID-19 crisis. But let me be clear – and these are words I shared with President Biden – our focus must be targeted on the COVID-19 crisis and Americans who have been most impacted by this pandemic. The President remains hopeful that we can have bipartisan support moving forward. I will only support proposals that will get us through and end the pain of this pandemic. For the sake of the country, we must work together with laser focus to defeat the COVID-19 crisis, support our neighbors and communities who continue to suffer and get back to a more normal life as quickly as possible."
MANCHIN, WARNER, CAPITO, DURBIN, KAINE, CASEY, BROWN, CARTWRIGHT INTRODUCE BILL TO PROTECT MINERS FROM COVID-19 EXPOSURE
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Mark Warner (D-VA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral COVID-19 Mine Worker Protection Act which would require the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to issue an emergency temporary standard requiring mine operators to establish a plan to tackle occupational COVID-19 exposure and provide miners with the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE). Additional information on the COVID-19 Mine Worker Protection Act can be found here.
"Our miners risk their lives every day to power our nation and during the COVID-19 pandemic, that risk is even greater for our brave miners," said Senator Manchin. "The bipartisan, bicameral COVID-19 Mine Worker Protection Act will instruct DOL to create safeguards and provide PPE to ensure our miners are protected from exposure to COVID-19 in the mines. I will continue to work with my bipartisan colleagues, DOL and the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) to pass this commonsense legislation to help our miners stay safe during the pandemic as they continue to provide Americans with the power we need every day."
MANCHIN APPLAUDS PRESIDENT BIDEN’S EXECUTIVE ORDER TO REOPEN ACA ENROLLMENT FOR UNINSURED AMERICANS
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) applauded President Biden’s Executive Order to open the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for a Special Enrollment Period from February 15th to May 15th to allow uninsured Americans to apply for coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic that has taken the lives of nearly 2,000 West Virginians and over 427,000 Americans.
"Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I pushed the Trump Administration to reopen the ACA online marketplace. This would have allowed Americans – who lost their coverage through no fault of their own – apply for health insurance, but they wouldn’t budge," said Senator Manchin. "Within the first two weeks of his Administration, President Biden has announced an ACA Special Enrollment Period. Now, families will have access to the online marketplace, giving many Americans immediate peace of mind knowing their loved ones will have healthcare during this global health crisis. I am pleased with President Biden’s announcement and will continue to work closely with the Administration to help West Virginians receive critical healthcare coverage during these difficult times."
MANCHIN LEADS DELEGATION CALL FOR ADMINISTRATION’S PRIORITIZATION OF WEST VIRGINIA IN NEXT COVID-19 VACCINE DISTRIBUTION
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Representatives Carol Miller, David McKinley and Alex Mooney sent a letter to the Biden Administration urging its prioritization of West Virginia in the next round of COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Addressed to Acting Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Norris Cochran and Acting Department of Defense Secretary David Norquist, the letter cites West Virginia’s record for successful vaccine distribution and the high number of at-risk West Virginians as reasons for the request.
"I thank the Biden Administration for the quick actions they have taken in the past week to increase vaccines across the country," said Senator Manchin. "West Virginia continues to lead the nation in COVID-19 vaccinations, proving our state is prepared to receive an increase in the next COVID-19 vaccine distribution so our frontline workers, healthcare professionals and all West Virginians who want a vaccination can receive one as additional doses become available. As the state with the highest rate of people at-risk for complications from COVID-19, prioritizing the Mountain State in the next vaccine distribution just makes sense. I look forward to continuing to work with the Biden Administration as they work to improve vaccine supply and distribute additional doses for West Virginians."
MANCHIN, CAPITO ANNOUNCE $1.6 MILLION FOR WEST VIRGINIA COVID-19 VACCINATION COSTS
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, today announced $1,648,653 from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to assist the state of West Virginia in distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. Specifically, this funding will be used to reimburse costs associated with emergency protective measures taken to store, handle, transport, distribute, and administer vaccines to reduce the spread the of the virus.
"West Virginia is leading by example when it comes to COVID-19 vaccine distribution and I’m pleased FEMA is providing additional funding to West Virginia’s National Guard and the Cabell-Huntington Health Department," said Senator Manchin. "These grants will help West Virginia continue to safely and efficiently distribute the vaccine once additional doses become available. I will continue to work with the Biden Administration to quickly procure additional doses and advocate for funding to ensure every West Virginian who wants a vaccine can get one as soon as possible."
MANCHIN, ROUNDS, SMITH, HASSAN, KING, SHAHEEN CALL ON FCC TO PRIORITIZE SMALL RURAL PROVIDERS FOR COVID-19 TELEHEALTH PROGRAM
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Tina Smith (D-MN), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Angus King (I-ME) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ensure small rural providers receive their fair share of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program funding authorized in the recent year-end stimulus package.
The Senators said in part, "All across the country our healthcare providers, first responders, and Americans of all walks of life have adjusted to a new way of receiving and giving care due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past few months, we have seen that telemedicine can provide a lifeline to essential health care services through specialized connected care that was previously only available in person… It is critical that all areas across the United States have access to telehealth and telemedicine during this difficult time. In order to ensure that funding reaches the areas across our country that need help the most, and need it now, we call on the FCC to target funds to small providers in rural areas."
The letter can be read in full by clicking here. |