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.

From the Hill to the Mountains

MANCHIN QUESTIONS NATIONAL SECURITY EXPERTS ON GLOBAL SECURITY CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES
Video of Senator Manchin during the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on global security challenges and strategy can be found here.

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), questioned retired Lieutenant General Herbert McMaster, Jr., Former United States National Security Advisor and Dr. Thomas Wright, Director of the Center on the United States and Europe and Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution during a hearing on global security challenges and strategy. Senator Manchin questioned the witnesses on cybersecurity threats to the United States and our allies, economic and natural resources warfare with Russia and China, and reassessing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) two percent requirement on defense spending.

MANCHIN APPLAUDS WEST VIRGINIA INITIATIVE WITH JOBCASE
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) applauded the state’s initiative with JobCase, a social platform for the “future of work,” that will link workers up with available jobs in West Virginia.

"I applaud the partnership between JobCase and the state of West Virginia on the launch of the Resource Center, a social platform that provides information for the “future of work” in the Mountain State. JobCase is also hosting a hiring event on March 4th that is focused on manufacturing career opportunities," Senator Manchin said. "JobCase has been a great partner in workforce development initiatives for a number of years. In 2019, my office partnered with JobCase to host the largest job fair in West Virginia’s recent history. Later that year, I joined the CEO of JobCase, Fred Goff, to promote the launch of DiscoverWVJobs.com – a joint initiative between Discover the Real West Virginia Foundation and JobCase that connects job seekers with available opportunities throughout the state. Two years later, JobCase is still invested in helping West Virginia find meaningful work. I’m thankful for their newest initiative and hiring event and look forward to hosting a job fair with them when the pandemic subsides."

MANCHIN, CAPITO ANNOUNCE USACE INVESTMENT FOR PURGITSVILLE WATER EXTENSION PROJECT
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $975,000 in funding through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for the Purgitsville Water Extension Project. This extension project will help provide reliable, safe drinking water to residents in Purgitsville and southwestern Hampshire County, West Virginia.

MANCHIN, STABENOW UNVEIL BILL TO INCENTIVIZE DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING AND REINVESTMENT IN RURAL AMERICA

Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today unveiled the American Jobs in Energy Manufacturing Act of 2021, which would incentivize domestic manufacturing of advanced energy technologies with targeted investment in rural communities across America that have suffered from a decline in manufacturing and traditional energy sector jobs.

MANCHIN, CAPITO ANNOUNCE $5.6 MILLION FOR WEST VIRGINIA AIRPORTS
Washington, DC– U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $5,640,837 for airports across West Virginia to provide economic relief and combat the spread of COVID-19. This grant funding is made available through the Coronavirus Relief and Response Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act of 2020.

MANCHIN, CAPITO ANNOUNCE $336K FOR ADVANCED WELDING TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROGRAM AT ROBERT C. BYRD INSTITUTE
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) today announced $336,796 from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) to the Advanced Welding Workforce Initiative (AWWI) at the Robert C Byrd Institute at Marshall University. The AWWI is a partnership program to invest in education and training for advanced technical workers in Appalachia.

MANCHIN VOTES TO CONFIRM EDUCATION SECRETARY CARDONA
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), voted to confirm Dr. Miguel Cardona as U.S. Secretary of Education.

"This evening I voted to confirm Dr. Miguel Cardona as Secretary of Education. When Miguel and I met last month he pledged to assist students in rural communities across the nation to ensure they have the support needed to succeed in their education, including advocating for increased connectivity and broadband access to help close the homework gap. He is committed to working together to help our most vulnerable students by addressing student homelessness. There is no doubt in my mind that Miguel is qualified to lead our Education Department, and I look forward to working with Secretary Cardona in his new role ensuring our students and teachers have the support they need to educate the next generation of Americans.” 

Energy Committee News

MANCHIN PRAISES INTERIOR’S INVESTMENT IN COAL COMMUNITIES TO HELP CREATE JOBS AND REVITALIZE LAND
Washington, DC – Today, Senator Joe Manchin, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, announced the availability of more than $260 million for states and Tribes to support reclamation efforts in fiscal year 2021. More than $152.22 million will now be available through the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act’s (SMCRA) Abandoned Mine Land (AML) grant program, of which West Virginia will receive $18.9 million. The Department is also disbursing $115 million through the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) grant program, of which West Virginia will receive $25 million.

Chairman Manchin and Ranking Member Barrasso Announce Upcoming Committee Schedule
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources today announced its schedule for this week. The full committee will hold one business meeting and one hearing, as described below. More information can be found by visiting the committee’s website.

ENR COMMITTEE RELEASES SUBCOMMITTEE ROSTERS AND LEADERSHIP FOR THE 117TH CONGRESS
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-WY) announced the majority and minority leadership and membership rosters of its four subcommittees, which can be found by clicking here.

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:

Eric, of Weston, contacted the Senator for assistance with the VA Aid and Attendance for his mother.  After the Senator’s inquiry was submitted that included his late father’s DD214 by Caseworker Kim Berry, the claim was granted at full benefits.