May 30, 2018
 

Upcoming Events

2018 Job Fairs

  Please be sure to check out my website because more may be added throughout the year. 

Click here for more. 

  

 

Martinsburg

WHAT: Regional Job & Resource Fair

WHEN: September 26 

Employer Registration:

Christy Sieg or Carolyn Jefferson

304-267-0065 ext. 59508 (Sieg) or ext.59507 (Jefferson)

Christy.l.sieg@wv.gov or Carolyn.r.jefferson@wv.gov

  

Parkersburg

WHAT: MOV Career & Resource Fair

WHEN: September 28 

WHERE: WVU-Parkersburg

Employer Registration:

Jennifer Randolph

304-424-8246

jennifer.randolph@wvup.edu 

 

Fairmont

WHAT: Regional Job Fair

WHEN: October 12 

WHERE: Robert Mollohan Research Center, High Technology Foundation

Employer Registration:

Lori Turner

304-363-0654 ext. 51258

lori.l.turner@wv.gov

 

Mobile Office Hours

Each week, my staff members are available in easily accessed locations across the state to assist with constituent services and to take your thoughts and concerns directly back to me.  Below are next week's times and locations for Minden, West Virginia.

 

Thursday, May 31. 

 

Time: 5 p.m. - 9.p.m.

Minden Community Center

Staff Member: Brian Aluise

 

To invite the senator to your event, click here.

 

 

Federal Resources

Funding for Water Infrastructure

Last week, $9.8 million was announced for West Virginia communities from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Office of Rural Development. Funding will go toward water and wastewater projects in the cities of Welch and New Cumberland, as well as communities in Mercer County.

I’m excited to see this funding head to West Virginia to support critical water infrastructure projects in Welch, New Cumberland and Bluewell. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue advocating for these much needed resources.

Individual awards listed below:

City of Welch

$992,000 in grant funding.

$2,955,000 in loan funding.

City of New Cumberland

$715,000 in grant funding.

$2,747,000 in loan funding.

Bluewell Public Service District

$700,000 in grant funding.

$1,727,000 in loan funding.

 

Funding for Head Start Programs

Last week, $3,726,345 in funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to support Head Start services in Beckley, Moorefield and Oceana.

For our children, education is the key to a bright future and Head Start plays a critical role in ensuring West Virginia’s students are prepared for their future. I’m excited to see this funding head to Beckley, Moorefield and Oceana and will continue to fight for resources for our Head Start programs across West Virginia.

Individual award details:

$1,074,962 – Eastern Allegheny Council for Human Services Head Start

$1,231,457 – Raleigh County Community Action Association, Inc.  

$1,419,926 – MountainHeart Community Services, Inc.

 

From the Hill to the Mountains

SUPPORTINGTHE NEED FOR FEDERAL TRIO PROGRAMS

This week I sent a letter to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos urging her to follow the clear intent of Congress and read and score applications from the FY 2017 TRIO competitions that had minor technical and budgetary issues and to use new funding provided in the FY18 spending bill to provide a funding increase for all current TRIO grantees. 

The additional $60 million in TRIO funding can allow additional schools, nonprofits and institutions of higher education to address the unmet needs of thousands of motivated students eager to build their path to the middle class through higher education. The Secretary has always recognized the need to retain flexibility when there are extra funds available in a given fiscal year, as is the case in FY 2018, to fund a new cohort of grantees from unfunded applications in prior application cycles. This recognition has been made clear in every Federal Register announcement detailing applications for new awards.  

Read the full letter below 

Dear Secretary DeVos: 

We write to you regarding the Fiscal Year 2018 omnibus package (P.L. 115-141) that included a $60 million increase for federal TRIO programs. We ask that you score the applications from the FY 2017 TRIO competitions that had minor technical and budgetary issues as directed by the accompanying report language. In addition, we ask that you provide a funding increase for all current TRIO grantees. Students who are the first in their families to go to college often face additional hurdles that TRIO programs prepare them to overcome. Given the vital importance of these programs to improve college readiness, access, selection, and degree completion for underrepresented students, we urge you to seize this opportunity to fund additional promising grantees to meet the needs of our country’s diverse students.

Congress designed the six TRIO programs to support veterans and students who are low-income, first-generation in college, have disabilities, or are homeless or foster youth in their path to access and succeed in postsecondary education. Participating high school students benefit from college and career awareness, academic tutoring, and support completing their financial aid and college application forms. Additionally, undergraduates benefit from academic and social supports, personal and career counseling, and other wrap-around supports that enable them to stay on track for graduation.

The additional $60 million in TRIO funding can allow additional schools, nonprofits and institutions of higher education to address the unmet needs of thousands of motivated students eager to build their path to the middle class through higher education. The Secretary has always recognized the need to retain flexibility when there are extra funds available in a given fiscal year, as is the case in FY 2018, to fund a new cohort of grantees from unfunded applications in prior application cycles. This recognition has been made clear in every Federal Register announcement detailing applications for new awards.

We urge the Department to review unfunded applications in the most recent previous TRIO competition and to award the additional $60 million to the most promising proposals and provide an increase to existing programs as soon as possible. Additionally, we request that you provide us with all the relevant information, in writing, regarding the Department’s process for reviewing and scoring as well as a timeline for awarding grants to the newly funded applicants. We also reiterate our directive in the omnibus package that the Department review all applications under fiscal year 2017 TRIO competitions that had minor technical issues, including those with minor budget issues, when making additional awards. Our nation’s students cannot wait. 

In Your Community

2018 Veterans & Military Hiring Event

Friday, June 1

10:00 a.m. - 2 p.m.

BridgeValley Community & Technical College 

         1201 Science Park Drive Charleston

 
 

On the Road

 151st Grafton Memorial Day Parade

I was honored to walk along some of West Virginia's finest in Grafton's Memorial Day parade. I sincerely thank our Veterans and service members, as well as their families, today and every day for their patriotism and sacrifice.

 

 

Fairmont Senior High School Commencement

I was honored to speak to Fairmont Senior High School Graduation on Friday and share in the Polar Bear Pride.  

 

 

Visiting the Bureau of Fiscal Service

On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to tour the Bureau of Fiscal Service in Parkersburg. The employees provide services that are fundamental to our nation’s financial security. 

 

 

Parkersburg High School Commencement

I was thrilled to deliver the commencement address at Parkersburg High School Tuesday night.  It was a great night to showcase Big Red pride. 

 

 

Kanawha Valley Senior Services Annual Picnic

It is always a pleasure to see good friends and neighbors at the Kanawha Valley Senior Services Annual Picnic.

 

 

 

WV Bureau of Senior Services Conference

I was glad to be able to speak with our senior West Virginians during the Senior Services Conference last week from Washington.  Thank you for your many excellent questions and perspectives!

 

 

How May We Help You?

I truly appreciate the opportunity to hear from my fellow West Virginians. As your U.S. Senator, I am proud to be your voice with government agencies during your time of need. My goal is to provide top-notch customer service for every West Virginian who contacts me, or who may need help.  I have a team of caseworkers in each of my four offices to help you with matters of concern. While I have no direct jurisdiction in the administrative matters of any federal, state, or local agency, I welcome the opportunity to assist you with whatever problem you may be experiencing and ask that full consideration be given to your case.

Recently, Angie Walsh, a caseworker in my Martinsburg Office was able to assist Mr. Matthew Jones and his mother Mrs. Debra Jones, with their efforts to have Matthew’s power chair replaced after it suddenly stopped working.  After receiving multiple denials for the specialized chair from Medicare, Matthew and Debra contacted my office.  Angie coordinated with Medicare officials to ensure the case was thoroughly reviewed, and Mr. Jones received the approval to move forward with the replacement.

 

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

             

Please do not respond to this email. The mailbox is unattended. To UNSUBSCRIBE at any time, please click here.