Upcoming Events

Saturday, October 7

Senator Manchin will walk as the Grand Marshal of the Forest Festival Parade at 1:30 p.m. in Elkins.

JOB FAIRS

Wednesday, October 11

What: Parkersburg Career Fair

When: 10 AM to 2 PM

Where: WVU at Parkersburg

www.wvup.edu/career

Thursday, October 26

What: Job Fair for Veterans

When: 9 AM to 3:30 PM

Where: Hazel and JW Ruby Community Center, Mylan Park, Morgantown

_________________

What: Job Fair

When: Time TBA

Where: Chief Logan Conference Center, Logan

To invite the senator to your event, click here.

From the Hill to the Mountains

Keeping the Full Promise to Our Miners

Seventy years ago, President Harry Truman recognized the importance of the coal that our miners produced for this country and promised that the government would guarantee our brave coal miners’ benefits in return for their service. In turn, our coal miners propelled the American economy, ushered in decades of economic growth, started an energy boom that made the U.S. a superpower, and helped our nation to victory in two World Wars.

This agreement was a sacred promise between worker and country, and it captured the very best of America.

Earlier this year, we passed legislation to ensure a huge piece of this promise was kept by securing the health benefits of 22,600 miners. These benefits are lifesaving to them and their families and I was proud to fight successfully, shoulder to shoulder with them, to secure their health care.

Although this was a huge victory, our work isn’t done. We’re still only halfway there to keeping the full promise made to coal miners seven decades ago.

That’s why, this week, I introduced the American Miners Pension Act that will protect the pensions of nearly 87,000 current beneficiaries and another 20,000 eligible coal miners with vested pensions. These miners earned their pensions through a lifetime of the hardest work imaginable. They did so resting in the knowledge that they would find it waiting for them down the road for support in their retired years.

Just as I did to secure permanent healthcare, this bill will be my highest priority and I will bring everyone together to get it passed. And I know our retired miners will work with us just as hard as they did when their healthcare was going to be ripped away from them. The strength, energy and openness they displayed made the difference in getting a permanent healthcare fix and we couldn’t have done it without them sharing their deeply personal stories with lawmakers.

Securing the healthcare benefits demonstrated what Congress can do when we work together and put partisan politics aside. It’s a philosophy that I have followed throughout my life in public service – in the West Virginia State Legislature, as your Governor, and now as your U.S. Senator. Members of Congress are here for one reason: to do what is right on behalf of the people we represent.

West Virginia coal miners are among the hardest working people in America, and they have dedicated their lives to powering this nation and keeping it the strongest in the world.

We cannot allow for the issue of their pensions to be put off until the deadline only to kick the can down the road with a temporary extension. Our retired miners deserve better than to receive letters notifying them that they will no longer receive their modest pension, which many count on for survival.

Let’s finish what we started and pass my bill to ensure our coal miners keep their hard-earned pensions.

How May We Help You?

United States Air Force Academy

“Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence in All We Do”

The U.S. Air Force Academy is the youngest of the service academies and the last of my highlighted series.

This esteemed academy located in Colorado Springs, mission is to educate, train and inspire men and women to become leaders of character. The Air Force Academy is one of the largest tourist attractions in Colorado. As with the other academies, admission is extremely competitive.

Based on the four pillars of excellence; the Air Force Academy is centered on military training, academics, athletics and character development. Cadets receive the skills and knowledge that they will need for success as officers. Graduates receive a Bachelor of Science degree and are commissioned as second lieutenants in the United States Air Force.

Air Force Academy alumni include 39 Astronauts, 35 Rhodes Scholars, 11 Legislators, 3 authors, and a Medal of Honor recipient.

If you are interested in becoming part of the prestigious Air Force Academy alumni, I encourage you to apply for a nomination from my office. You may find my application online at www.manchin.senate.gov. The deadline to submit applications is October 6.

United States Air Force Academy

Admissions Office

HQ USAFA/RR

USAF Academy CO 80840-5651

(719) 472-3070

Website: www.usafa.af.mil

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

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On the Road

Martinsburg Job Fair

Last Friday, my office hosted nearly 90 employers and more than 500 job seekers in Martinsburg for a regional job fair. I truly thank the partner organizations and employers who helped make this most recent job fair such an outstanding success. This is the 22nd job fair I have hosted across the state Since October 2015, and there are many more to come. We wish the best of luck to all the applicants who attended!

Introduction of the American Miners Pension Act

I joined my colleagues and UMWA representatives this week to introduce my bill - the American Miners Pension Act, which protects the pensions of tens of thousands of retired coal miners.

U.S. Marine Corps Monument Dedication

This week, my Regional Coordinator, Brian Aluise, attended the dedication of a United States Marine Corps monument to the beautiful Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery in institute. This was a very special occasion as it was also the 94th birthday of my dear friend and national treasure, Hershel "Woody" Williams.

Corridor H Groundbreaking

My Regional Coordinator, Peggy Hawse, attended the groundbreaking of the section of Corridor H that runs from Kerens to Parsons. I have supported this project since I was Governor, and have been so proud to see it come to fruition. The construction of this section is expected to be completed by Fall 2019.

(Photo credit: The Inter-Mountain / Beth Henry-Vance)

West Virginia Spotlight

150th Anniversary of Storer College in Harpers Ferry

(Photo from the West Virginia & Regional History Center)

Born out of the fiery turmoil of the Civil War, our state was founded by courageous patriots, led by President Abraham Lincoln, who were willing to risk their lives and fortunes in a united pursuit of justice and freedom for all.

Storer College was established by the Reverend Dr. Nathan Cook Brackett and philanthropist John Storer of Sanford, Maine whose goal was to create a school that was open and accepting of all students regardless of gender, race or religion. The College also had the support of such historic leaders as Frederick Douglas, W.E.B. Du Bois, William Monroe Trotter and Booker T. Washington.

West Virginia is great because our people are great - Mountaineers who will always be free. And like the brave, loyal patriots who made West Virginia the 35th star on Old Glory, our love of God and country and family and state is unshakeable. I know 20, 50, or another 150 years from now, that will always remain the same.