ON THE ROAD

Yesterday on Veterans Day, I joined Toyota in thanking our Veterans and supporting the Gold Star Mothers of WV, The Fisher House at the Hershel Woody Williams VA Medical Center in Huntington, and The Woody Williams Foundation. Toyota West Virginia has been a strong partner for 25 years and I thank them for their commitment to employing Veterans and supporting Veterans' organizations. Watch here.

I was proud to celebrate the opening of the final 14-mile segment of US-35 from Buffalo to Point Pleasant. As governor, I helped expand this critical four-lane highway, and this announcement will mean safer and faster travel through Putnam and Mason counties.

This week, Senator Capito and I visited the new US Cellular 5G wireless pilot site in Kingwood. Our visit highlighted the potential of this new technology to bring broadband access to every West Virginian, no matter where they live. And the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill that Senator Capito and I negotiated provides nearly $600 million to make a real change in reliable, accessible broadband access for all West Virginians. I look forward to seeing the positive impact of US Cellular’s efforts for broadband expansion here in the Mountain State. Watch here.

This week I spoke at the West Virginia Association of Optometric Physicians. Every West Virginian, and American deserves access to affordable healthcare, including vision care. I applaud West Virginia’s optometrists for their commitment to providing quality vision care to their patients despite the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. My bipartisan DOC Access Act would improve access to vision care and give patients and doctors greater control over their healthcare decisions. I will continue to urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this important bipartisan legislation.

Gayle and I were proud to wish World War II Veteran John Panza, a member of our Greatest Generation, a very Happy 100th Birthday on November 3. Thank you, John, for your unwavering service to our nation and we hope you enjoyed celebrating with your loved ones.

My staff participated in a Veterans Day celebration at the Memorial Arch in Huntington. I thank all the Veterans and family members in attendance today for the sacrifices they have made to preserve the freedoms we hold dear – life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

My staff also participated in the Veterans Day Parade and Service in Charleston joined by Ed Converse, Post Commander of the John Brawley Post 20 of the American Legion.

Congratulations to Marshall President-elect Brad Smith and Marshall University for the groundbreaking on the new Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation.

My staff attended the Wonderland of Trees event hosted by the United Way of Southern WV, in partnership with the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce and Fayette County Chamber of Commerce.

My staff participated in the Ribbon Cutting to celebrate upgrades to the Ravenswood Constellium Plant. The Ravenswood location will be one of only two manufacturing locations in the country that have enhanced capabilities for cold rolled aluminum.

This week, I was honored to congratulate Hospice of Southern West Virginia as they celebrate their 40th anniversary. For the last 40 years, families in Fayette, Raleigh, Summers, and Wyoming Counties have turned to Hospice of Southern West Virginia for support and comfort for their loved ones. I know that legacy of excellence will continue for many years to come.

HOW MAY WE HELP YOU

Brittany of Berkeley County contacted Senator Manchin's office for assistance with a passport issue. She and her husband we planning an anniversary trip and she had filed to renew her passport. They became concerned that it would not arrive in time for their trip. With Senator Manchin's assistance, Brittany and her husband received her passport and they are able to take their vacation. Click here or below to see how Senator Manchin's office was able to help.

Visit manchin.senate.gov/arp for more information.

MANCHIN: AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DELIVERS ANOTHER $16 MILLION TO EXPAND BROADBAND ACCESS THROUGH WEST VIRGINIA SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES

Charleston, WV – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced another $16,072,811 from the American Rescue Plan for 13 West Virginia schools, school districts, libraries and other education organizations as part of the third and fourth rounds of the Emergency Connectivity Fund. This funding is distributed through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to help schools and libraries purchase laptops and tablets, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers and broadband connections for students, staff and library visitors. To date, West Virginia has received $33 million for 41 schools, school districts, libraries and other education organizations from the Emergency Connectivity Fund.

“Delivering reliable, affordable broadband access to every holler in West Virginia continues to be one of my top priorities. I successfully fought to include around $48 million to West Virginia through the Emergency Connectivity Fund funded in the American Rescue Plan, which provides short-term solutions to increase broadband access through hotspots. And in my bipartisan infrastructure bill that recently passed Congress, I fought to include around $600 million for West Virginia alone to increase broadband deployment and access across the state. I look forward to seeing the critical impact this funding will bring to the Mountain State, and I will keep fighting to close the digital divide for all West Virginians,” said Senator Manchin.

The Emergency Connectivity Fund was authorized in the American Rescue Plan, which passed the Senate in March, to provide $7.17 billion to expand distance learning and connectivity around the country, including key provisions authored by Senator Manchin which prioritized rural areas and made these funds fully reimbursable to ensure rural states like West Virginia do not have to bear the burden of higher costs. In September, Senator Manchin announced that West Virginia would receive $4,188,368 in the first round of the Emergency Connectivity Fund, and in October, he announced West Virginia would receive $12,760,030 in the second round.

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Senator Manchin's state offices are accepting internship applications for Spring 2022. Click here or the image below to learn more and to fill out the online application.