Information is updated daily on: manchin.senate.gov/coronavirus

TESTING & VACCINE INFO

Some testing sites require a physician’s order before testing. To report your symptoms and be directed to one of the available testing sites, contact your primary care doctor or a designated hotline for your area.  If you have gone through these steps and are still having problems getting a test, please email me at common_sense@manchin.senate.gov and a member of my staff will reach out to you to see if we can assist. For a listing of one-day, weekly, and drive-through pharmacy testing, visit the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources website: https://dhhr.wv.gov/COVID-19/pages/testing.aspx

To learn more about COVID-19 vaccine clinics and availability, visit the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources website: https://dhhr.wv.gov/COVID-19/Pages/Vaccine.aspx

OR call the COVID-19 VACCINE INFO LINE: 1-833-734-0965

Hours of Operation for the Vaccine Info Line: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on Sunday

Click here for WV DHHR’s latest updates to reported COVID-19 cases

WV STRONG

I was always taught that if you can count your blessings, you can share your blessings. I’ve been seeing so many great WV Strong and Better Angels stories. During these unprecedented times, it’s important to focus on all the wonderful things that are still happening every day in our beautiful state.

This week’s Better Angels are the members of the Upshur Parish House and its affiliate, Crosslines. This special organization runs a food pantry, assists with utility bills, provides personal hygiene items, clothing and school supplies to families throughout Upshur County and neighboring communities. Additionally, the organization provides holiday meal packages for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter to many families each holiday.

During the pandemic, the need for utility assistance and other help has increased dramatically, and the organization has risen to the occasion to keep the heat, lights and water on for countless families. Upshur Parish House and the many organizations like it across West Virginia truly represent the best of our statewide community. I know I am joining countless families when I say ‘thank you’ for your service during this challenging time.

Please continue sharing your stories of hope, joy, and volunteerism by emailing your nomination and a photo to WVSTRONG@manchin.senate.gov .

WORKING FOR YOU

MANCHIN, MURKOWSKI, HASSAN, SHAHEEN, TESTER, CRAMER, KING CALL ON BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO DISTRIBUTE FUNDING TO HELP RURAL COMMUNITIES DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jon Tester (D-MT), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Angus King (I-ME) called on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to prioritize and quickly distribute the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund to rural and underserved communities hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund, funded in the recent year-end spending package, is intended to support testing, contact tracing, surveillance, containment and mitigation to monitor and suppress COVID-19.

The Senators said in part, “In recognition of the unique challenges faced by high-risk, rural, and underserved areas, and the fact that current population-based formula funding may not factor in these circumstances, Congress set aside $2.5 billion provided in the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund for “high-risk and underserved populations and rural communities” to be allocated in a targeted manner. While this package did not provide the set-aside for rural providers that we have argued for in our bipartisan COVID-19 relief proposal, it provided an essential lifeline to help them navigate these next few months, and it was coupled with other critical assistance for these providers that we urge you to implement as quickly as possible… With the very concerning trends in rural America, additional resources are needed to ensure that health providers and health departments have the funding necessary to address the COVID-19 pandemic. This Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund set-aside should be distributed to support rural and underserved communities across the United States as quickly as possible."

MANCHIN: WEST VIRGINIA TO RECEIVE INCREASE IN WEEKLY MODERNA VACCINE ALLOCATION
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) received notification that West Virginia will be receiving an increase in the weekly Moderna vaccine allocation.

"This afternoon I was notified West Virginia will see a 1,500 dose increase in our weekly Moderna vaccine allocation. West Virginia continues to lead the nation in effective and safe COVID-19 vaccination distribution and I am pleased that these efforts are being rewarded with an increase in these vital doses. As vaccine production increases, I will continue to work with the Biden Administration to quickly procure more doses so every West Virginian who wants a vaccine can get one," said Senator Manchin.

This is the second consecutive increase for West Virginia with the state receiving a 3,700 dose increase this week and an additional 1,500 dose increase next week.

On January 21st, Senator Manchin spoke with General Gus Perna, Chief Operating Officer of Operation Warp Speed on COVID-19 vaccine procurement and distribution about the need for additional vaccines in West Virginia. He received assurances that the Biden Administration is ramping up manufacturing and expects to see an increase in distribution to every state in early February. 

On January 24th, Senator Manchin spoke with members of the National Economic Council and stressed that the number one priority must be quickly producing and efficiently distributing the vaccine throughout the country.

On January 26th, Senator Manchin applauded the Biden Administration announcement that they would increase the weekly vaccination supply and increase transparency by giving three week forecast of vaccine supplies. 

MANCHIN, CAPITO ANNOUNCE $630K FOR WEST VIRGINIA HEALTH CENTERS
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $630,480 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help health centers provide care for minority West Virginians diagnosed with hypertension, or high blood pressure.

"Our front line healthcare workers have gone above and beyond the call of duty to take care of our fellow West Virginians throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. As we continue to learn more about COVID-19, studies have found that minority populations are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and that there is a direct association between high blood pressure and more severe cases of COVID-19. In West Virginia over 1 in 3 adults have hypertension, making it essential for our healthcare providers to have the necessary resources to help control high blood pressure and improve COVID-19 outcomes in our state. I am pleased HHS is investing in our health centers to ensure they can provide quality, accessible healthcare to our minority communities and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for funding and resources to support health centers across West Virginia," said Senator Manchin.

RESOURCES

Our office is working diligently to bring you the most up-to-date information as it becomes available. Click the links below for more information. All information regarding resources and more can be found on Senator Manchin’s website.

Unemployment & Direct Payments

Veterans Assistance

Basic Needs

Business Assistance

Volunteer

Feeling Ill?

WV 211:

United Way of West Virginia provides an important service to West Virginians by helping users navigate the vast number of resources available to aid with healthcare issues, food shortages, mental health questions and more. This program is more important now than ever as we battle the COVID-19 pandemic and I commend United Way for continuing to serve their fellow West Virginians through this time.

United Way’s new 2-1-1 will make information on a wide variety of local support services more accessible across our entire state,” said United Way of Central WV President, Margaret O’Neal. “Whether it’s information for locating a health clinic, finding child care programs, or getting housing assistance, 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember, go-to resource for individuals and families.

To utilize these resources West Virginians can:

Call 2-1-1
Text your zip code to 898-211
Visit http://www.wv211.org/contact
Call toll-free 1-833-848-9905

__________________________
All information is available and updated daily on manchin.senate.gov/coronavirus.

ENERGY COMMITTEE NEWS

MANCHIN TO SERVE AS CHAIRMAN OF SENATE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

Senator Manchin Will Set Agenda As The Lead Democrat On The Senate Committee On Energy And Natural Resources

Washington, DC – Yesterday, the United States Senate passed the organizing resolution giving Senate Democrats control of committees and officially appointing Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Senator Manchin served as Ranking Member of the committee in the 116th Congress and has been a member of the committee since being elected to the Senate in 2010.

"I am incredibly proud of everything we accomplished for the people of West Virginia and the entire country during my tenure as Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in the 116th Congress. Working in a bipartisan way, we secured the enactment of laws to update our national energy policy for the first time in 13 years through the passage of the Energy Act of 2020. We also permanently reauthorized and provided full, mandatory funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and made monumental investments in our National Park system and other public lands by passing the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act and the Great American Outdoors Act –the most sweeping conservation legislation in a generation. We also passed historic legislation for West Virginia by designating the New River Gorge as a National Park and Preserve, which will promote the beauty and historical significance of the New River Gorge,” Senator Manchin said. “I am proud of the Committee’s productive, bipartisan work last Congress, but our work is never done and with a new administration incoming there is no shortage of work to do to advance a cleaner energy future while ensuring no worker is left behind and our energy independence remains uncompromised As we begin this new Congress, I would like to welcome our new Committee members, Senator John Hickenlooper of Colorado and Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, who will bring valuable perspective and experience to the Committee. I look forward to working with Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-WY) and every committee member to build upon the accomplishments of the 116th Congress, quickly consider and confirm the nominees that come before our committee, and get to work on the energy and natural resources issues facing West Virginians and Americans everywhere."

ENERGY COMMITTEE SENDS SECRETARY OF ENERGY NOMINEE TO SENATE FLOOR WITH BIPARTISAN VOTE

Manchin votes to confirm Granholm to be Secretary of Energy

Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a business meeting to consider the pending nomination of Governor Jennifer Granholm to be the Secretary of Energy. She passed out of committee by a recorded vote of 13-4. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), incoming Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, voted to support Governor Granholm’s nomination. Governor Granholm previously committed to Senator Manchin that DOE will prioritize investments in states that have lost traditional energy jobs.

"As I said at Governor Granholm’s hearing last week, I believe she is extremely well qualified to lead the Department of Energy and I strongly support her nomination. She has the leadership skills, the vision, and the compassion for people that we need at the helm of the Department of Energy to face the climate challenge, and at the same time, preserve our energy security, protect our national security, cleanup the Cold War legacy, and preserve our scientific and technological prowess. I am pleased to support her nomination, and I urge all my colleagues to join me in voting to report her nomination,” Senator Manchin said.

MANCHIN, COMMITTEE HOLD FIRST CLIMATE HEARING OF 117TH CONGRESS

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), incoming Chairman of the Committee, convened the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee for a hearing to examine global climate trends from energy related sectors to consider where and how progress has been made in addressing climate change. Senator Manchin stressed the need to put the priorities of our nation before partisan politics and to work together to combat the global climate challenge.

"Climate change is an issue critical not only to our states, and our nation, but to every country around the world. To address climate change, we must face it, head on, on a global scale and in every sector of our economy. No doubt we will all have differing views on the best way to do that. But first, I believe we must begin with a common understanding of where we stand today, and what got us here. [I]t is abundantly clear that dwelling on partisan rhetoric shuts down debate, collaboration, and progress. As we look for ways to heal the divisions in our own country, I believe that one way for us to overcome our differences of opinion is by first grounding ourselves in the facts, which will serve as a guide going forward,” Senator Manchin said.

Senator Manchin highlighted the declining costs of many energy technologies as a set of facts that make the case for innovation. Senator Manchin also set the economic scene by pointing to downturn in coal communities and other traditional energy producing regions as well as continuing fossil fuel use in other countries as fundamental to the work of the Committee.

"As our energy mix has changed, concern about the impacts on these traditional energy communities has and will remain front of mind for many of our members and I will continue to work hard to ensure that those communities are given new opportunities to thrive, including as a member of the new IEA global commission focused on examining the impacts of a clean energy transition on individuals and communities. Although fossil fuel consumption is dropping on the U.S. power grid, the global trends in fossil fuel use should make us all recognize that fossil fuels aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, particularly in countries that are seeking to expand access to electricity and energy in order to address poverty.” Senator Manchin said. “By pursuing an all-of-the-above energy policy and a broad array of emissions reducing technologies, we can simultaneously build our technology export opportunities and diplomatic relationships with those countries who choose to utilize their own fossil resources."

MANCHIN JOINS GLOBAL COMMISSION TO PUT PEOPLE AT THE HEART OF THE CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following statement after accepting an invitation to join Our Inclusive Energy Future: The Global Commission on People-Centered Clean Energy— a newly formed high-level global commission convened by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and made up of key figures from across the globe to examine the social and economic impacts of the shift to cleaner energy technologies on individuals and communities.

"I am proud to be part of a global effort that acknowledges and will examine the increased hardships on traditional energy producing communities amid the shift to a cleaner energy technologies. As our global energy mix changes, concern about the impacts on these communities that have historically mined the coal, produced the fuels, and generated baseload power has and will loom large for families not only in my state of West Virginia, but across the nation and in every country around the world. I believe it is the responsibility of those who serve in government to also keep it front of mind and ensure that reinvestment is targeted to address that concern. As a member of this new IEA global commission, I will continue to work hard to ensure that these hardworking communities are given new opportunities to thrive. I am honored to join this effort and to ensure we leave no worker behind as we move towards a cleaner energy future.”

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

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