Upcoming Events

March 31

From Washington, Senator Manchin Skypes with students at Hundred High School.

March 31

Senator Manchin participates in a Town Hall on the Miners Protection Act at the UMWA Union Hall in Matewan.

April 21  

Senator Manchin co-hosts a Regional Job and Resource Fair in Huntington at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena's Convention Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There are 105 employers or resources signed up to participate in this job fair, and more are adding every day!  Whether you are looking for a new job, wanting to change careers, develop your education or hoping to network with fellow employers or job seekers, there will be something for everyone.  The federal agency Office of Personnel Management will be on hand to offer a class called, “How to Find and Get Federal Jobs.”  

If you are an employer and want to register, please contact Vonda with WorkForce West Virginia at 304-528-5525.  

There is no cost to participate in this event.

Save the Date - April 28

Randolph County Job Fair. More details will follow.

Save the Date – July 8

The Third Annual Ride for Fallen Service Heroes is scheduled for Saturday, July 8th.

More events coming soon.

To invite Senator Manchin to your event, click here.

Manchin's Mountain Message

"A rocket won’t fly unless somebody lights the fuse.”

 - Homer Hickam

While in the state this past week, I had the honor to host a Student Career Fair and Skype with two astronauts aboard the International Space Station.  Middle and high school students from all over West Virginia drove to Charleston to participate in this one-of-a-kind event at the Clay Center, while thousands of others watched online from their schools.  I want to thank the two NASA astronauts, Dr. Peggy Whitson and R. Shane Kimbrough for sharing their daily life and giving these students advice on how to pursue careers in science and technology, as well as the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia and Channel 13 WOWK for their hard work to make the event such a success.

Students also got to participate in the "Out of this World" Student Career Fair at the Clay Center. Nearly 20 employers and universities participated and took the time to talk about future career and education opportunities with these bright students. This was an amazing opportunity for our students.

As Homer Hickam said in his book about growing up in Coalwood, WV, “A rocket won’t fly unless someone lights the fuse.”  I believe that this event helped to light the fuse of many West Virginia students, and helped them see possibilities they may have never dreamed of before.  

To view a video of the skype with the astronauts, please click here.

Recent Legislation

Miners Protection Act

"Today, I met with retired UMWA miners that have been coming to Washington D.C. for years to tirelessly fight for the benefits that they have earned and deserve. We are constantly working together to bring this bill over the finish line and to deliver on the promise that we made to them over 70 years ago. These miners and their families are facing yet another deadline and the terrifying uncertainty that comes with not knowing whether they will have health insurance and retirement benefits to pay for life's necessities. I have spoken with President Trump who pledged to work with me to get this done. It's well past time that Congress acted and we must pass the Miners Protection Act now."

- U.S. Senator Joe Manchin

Manchin Veterans Bill Passes in the Senate

This week, the Senate passed Senator Manchin’s bipartisan Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing (HIRE) Veterans Act, a bill that will help more West Virginia Veterans get jobs.  

Senator Manchin is working hard to help all West Virginians find jobs, and has co-hosted 17 job, career or resource fairs in the past year and a half.   As a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Senator Manchin works on issues that are important to West Virginia Veterans and their families, and has worked diligently on a Veterans Jobs program.  Five years ago, Senator Manchin was proud to form the bipartisan Congressional Veterans Jobs Caucus, which was started with the goal of reducing the Veterans unemployment rate.  His “I Hire Veterans” Program encourages businesses and congressional offices to hire Veterans. Senator Manchin is proud to have three Veterans on his staff.

Senator Manchin also relies on his Veterans Advisory Group, a statewide network of Veterans who routinely provide him feedback and suggestions on legislation and issues facing Veterans. If you are interested in joining this group, please call the senator's Fairmont office at 304-368-0567.

More on the Veterans Bill

The measure establishes a tiered recognition program within the Department of Labor to award employers based on their contributions to Veteran employment.

“I applaud the quick passage of the HIRE Veterans Act, an important piece of legislation that recognizes employers who hire our Veterans,” Senator Manchin said. “Over the past couple of years, many American businesses both small and large have joined the effort to hire Veterans and are now doing their part in the fight to reduce our Veterans’ unemployment rate. This is tremendous news, but while many employers claim to be Veteran-friendly, there is no nationally recognized standard for employers to aspire to, or for future Veteran employees to seek out. This bill will change that, and it is one more step we can take toward making it easier for our service men and women to find opportunities for good-paying jobs. I look forward to its fast passage in the House and it’s signing into law.”                                                 

Senator Manchin introduced the HIRE Vets Act in February with Roy Blunt, a Republican Senator from Missouri.  The bill recognizes qualified employers for meeting certain criteria designed to encourage Veteran-friendly businesses, including: what percentage of new hires, or the overall workforce, is made up of Veterans; what types of training and leadership development opportunities are made available; what other benefits and resources are offered, such as tuition assistance; and other factors that demonstrate a commitment to supporting Veterans throughout their post-military careers. The recognition would come in the form of a Medallion Certificate, awarded at the platinum and gold levels. Manchin and Blunt introduced similar legislation in the previous congress.