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MANCHIN: FUTURE EMERGENCY CORONAVIRUS PACKAGES NEED DEDICATED RURAL FUNDING
Charleston, WV – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) released the following statement on President Trump signing into law the bipartisan $484 billion coronavirus relief package to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and increase funding for healthcare providers that was passed by the Senate on Wednesday and the House of Representatives on Thursday.
“Today President Trump signed into law an additional $484 billion in coronavirus emergency funding. While I am relieved we were finally able to agree on a bipartisan compromise that includes increased funding for healthcare providers and small businesses, I am exceedingly worried that the Americans and West Virginians who need support the most will not receive this help. I will continue fighting to change the emergency healthcare funding distribution formula to ensure our rural providers receive their fair share and I won’t stop pushing for the commonsense, bipartisan fixes we know we need to make the PPP program work for Main Street, not Wall Street. I will also keep calling for flexible funding for our state and local governments to ensure they can maintain the essential services their constituents need now more than ever,” said Senator Manchin.
MANCHIN, CAPITO LEAD BIPARTISAN COLLEAGUES CALLING FOR RELIEF FOR RURAL BROADCASTERS, LOCAL NEWSPAPERS DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Charleston, WV – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) led 74 Senators in calling for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Russell Vought to support radio and television broadcasters and local newspapers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Senators said in part, “Our radio and television broadcasters and rural newspapers provide local and national news, emergency alerts, educational programs, and more to all corners of the United States. In many rural areas, broadcast stations are the predominant or only form of local information. It is important that local media are able to continue to provide their services during the COVID-19 pandemic so that Americans are able to stay up to date with the latest news and information.”
MANCHIN HEARS FROM WHEELING AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AMID CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Charleston, WV – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) participated in a tele-town hall with the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce to hear their concerns about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“Local and small businesses across West Virginia have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our communities and economies are hurting and we must do everything possible to help our rural small businesses stay afloat. That’s why I fought for dedicated rural funding in the additional emergency funding the Senate passed yesterday so that mom and pop shops can apply for support that big businesses can’t touch. I appreciate the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce for sharing their concerns and asking questions about this terrible pandemic and the support available for local and small businesses,” said Senator Manchin.
MANCHIN, CAPITO ADVOCATE FOR SMALL AIRPORTS DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Charleston, WV – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) urged the Department of Transportation (DOT) to support small airports during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide critical flexibility in the Essential Air Service (EAS) program.
The Senators said in part, “The Essential Air Service (EAS) Program connects over 170 small communities in the U.S. to the National Air Transportation System, providing rural communities that simply are not profitable to serve with an essential connection to major airports and metropolitan areas throughout the country. However, with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) continuing to advise the American public to avoid discretionary travel as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19), traffic through our rural airports has precipitously declined. These disruptions have already caused 53 airlines to suspend or severely reduce flights, and we are concerned that the smaller, less profitable airlines who predominately serve our rural constituents through the EAS program will have the most difficulty remaining solvent during these next few months. While we appreciate the steps you have taken to increase flexibility within EAS, more needs to be done to help EAS and its partner airlines maintain the capacity to serve our constituents when business and travel are allowed to resume.”
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