Upcoming Events

Upcoming Job Fairs

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

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What: Job Fair sponsored by Region II Workforce Development Board

When: Time TBA

Where: Chief Logan Conference Center, Logan

Free Black Lung Screening for Coal Miners

NIOSH’s Mobile Occupational Safety and Health Units will be set up in Matewan and Oceana, providing free black lung exams this week through Friday, October 20. Senator Manchin visited with coal miners in Matewan and Oceana earlier this year, and he promised to work with NIOSH to bring the mobile clinics to them. 

The clinics will be set up from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. each day, Monday through Friday. Miners are urged to call 1-888-480-4042 to make an appointment. Walk-ins will be taken as time allows. According to NIOSH, the exam typically takes 30 minutes and includes a short questionnaire, blood pressure screening, a chest x-ray, and a breathing test. Participation is free and the results are confidential. 

To invite the senator to your event, click here.

From the Hill to the Mountains

For far too many West Virginians, opioid use is the most dangerous threat to the safety of themselves and their family. And just like we fight threats to our country from abroad, we must prioritize tackling the ever-increasing threat of opioid abuse that occurs right here at home. First Lady Melania Trump’s visit to Lily’s Place this week shines a light on a topic that is so often kept in the dark. We must bring these issues to the national forefront and work with the White House to end this opioid epidemic. 

As your U.S. Senator, I fight every day to get West Virginians the help they need to help them overcome their substance use disorder. One way to do make sure that West Virginians have that access is to establish a permanent funding stream for substance use disorder treatment. My legislation, the LifeBOAT ACT, would do just that by creating a one cent fee per milligram of opioid that is manufactured. This bill would provide West Virginia with more federal funding for substance use disorder treatment and allow more resources to go to facilities like Lily’s Place. It would help make substance abuse treatment affordable and easily accessible. 

I also introduced Jessie’s Law to ensure that a patient’s medical records accurately reflect their history with opioids while also protecting their privacy, so that doctors and hospitals can make medically appropriate decisions about prescribing opioid medication to individuals who may relapse into their addiction. While these bills are necessary steps in our fight against opioids, we must do more to help victims of opioid abuse begin a new life.

The First Lady’s visit shows what a serious and important issue we are dealing with in West Virginia every single day. This epidemic brings chaos and instability to infants and children, desperation to husbands and wives, and sorrow to mothers and fathers. The babies at Lily’s Place did not choose to be there and have no control over their circumstances. But Lily’s Place gives these babies and their mothers a chance at a normal, healthy life. It’s my hope that the First Lady’s visit brings these babies and their struggle to national attention and spur action in Congress in order to help babies all over the country. 

This week I joined the Wood County community to open Recovery Point Parkersburg. This 85 bed facility will serve men all across West Virginia who struggle with substance use disorders. This long-term program is a shining example of how we as a state can help victims not only become sober but to breathe new life into them so that they may once again become successful members of our communities. 

Recovery Point’s success lies in their approach to tackling opioid abuse not in a single day or week, but through a long-term process that allows participants to work with their peers at their in-patient facilities. This process is a trial for those that enter the doors of Recovery Point, but those who complete the program are rewarded with a fresh start to their lives. 

Overcoming substance abuse disorder is a huge accomplishment itself, but taking the long-term steps to improving a person’s future is how we can progress as a state away from the pain of opioid abuse. West Virginians are resilient people and are always willing to lend a hand to their neighbors that are down. Lily’s Place and Recovery Point are excellent examples of what that helping hand can look like. I’m proud the First Lady visited Lily’s Place and I look forward to continuing working with the First Lady, the President and his administration on how we as a country can not only tackle the opioid epidemic but how we can also see to it that those affected by opioids get a chance to start fresh. As we experience and struggle through this crisis, I am still fighting for West Virginians and everyone in our country who is touched by this disease.

West Virginia Spotlight

 Adult Protective Services

This week, it is an honor to highlight Adult Protective Services and the APS workers and WV DHHR workers who work diligently every day protect our citizens.  These individuals provide the appropriate services and support to adults who are functionally disabled, or living in a personal care home or nursing home.  To learn more, click here.

Do you have a nomination for a Spotlight Feature? Click here to inform my office.