2020 CENSUS

Visit our 2020 Census page on our website.

The deadline to respond is October 31, 2020.

If we don’t respond to the Census, we will miss out on important federal funds that make our communities stronger. Every person in West Virginia that does not respond to the Census equates to $20,000 lost in federal funds for West Virginia and our communities over the next ten years. If 100 people do not respond, that's $2 MILLION lost in federal funds to West Virginia over the next ten years. We simply can’t afford that. So please, Be Counted and respond to the census today by visiting:

2020census.gov

or call 844-330-2020.

BROADBAND

Take a Speed Test Here.

The sad fact is that many places in West Virginia simply do not have access to reliable broadband and the lack of access affects West Virginians every day. Back in 2015, the FCC released a coverage map that stated 99.9% of Americans had wireless coverage. I knew then what I know now: That is just plain wrong.

That’s why I’m asking all West Virginians to submit your internet speed-tests, so we can prove to the FCC that our broadband coverage is well below the stated coverage. So far, your efforts have helped the FCC acknowledge that our providers are overstating their coverage, but we must continue to show where and how widespread the lack of broadband coverage is in West Virginia.

HOW MAY WE HELP YOU?

To request assistance from my case team, click here.

As your U.S. Senator, I am proud to be your voice with government agencies during your time of need. My goal is for me and my staff to provide the best possible customer service for every West Virginian who contacts me needing assistance. While I have no direct jurisdiction in legal or administrative matters of any federal, state, or local agency, I welcome the opportunity to assist you in any way possible and to assure that full consideration is given to your case. See one of our recent success stories below:

Mrs.Theresa Lynn Lilly of Sissonville contacted the Senator's office for assistance. After losing his job, Mrs. Lilly’s husband maintained private health insurance for them through 2018. When he became Medicare eligible, Mrs. Lilly also attempted to enroll in Medicare but was denied for a “gap in health coverage.” She had attempted to appeal the review twice, but could not get assistance and was told that she would have to wait until open enrollment next year which would leave her without health insurance benefits. Caseworker Cris Hewett contacted the local Social Security office and requested that Mrs. Lilly’s application be reviewed. SSA agreed to an equitable relief review and approved her Medicare enrollment effective October 1, leaving no gap in insurance coverage.

From the Hill to the Mountains

MANCHIN STATEMENT ON CANCELLATION OF ATLANTIC COAST PIPELINE

Charleston, WV - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released the following statement on the announcement that the Atlantic Coast Pipeline project has been cancelled.

"I’m disappointed to learn plans to build the Atlantic Coast Pipeline have been cancelled. The Atlantic Coast Pipeline project took meaningful steps to ensure the pipeline was safely constructed and the Appalachian Trail and surrounding areas were protected. The pipeline would have created good paying construction and manufacturing jobs for hard working West Virginians, reinvested in our energy markets increasing our domestic energy supply, and strengthened national security with reliable energy to key military installations. Today’s announcement is yet another reminder of why it is critically important we work together to find a responsible balance between the environment and economy. We must take steps to modernize our nation’s energy policy by passing the bipartisan American Energy Innovation Act."

MANCHIN ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $3.4 MILLION FROM PILT PROGRAM FOR WEST VIRGINIA

Charleston, WV – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today announced $3,463,622 from the U.S. Department of the Interior's (DOI) Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program to counties in West Virginia. These county payments are made annually for tax-exempt Federal lands administered by DOI agencies including the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and for lands administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service.

“Many of our local governments that have Federal lands within their boundaries would be subject to budget shortfalls if it were not for the PILT program to help offset those shortfalls because local governments are prohibited from collecting taxes on Federal lands. I am pleased West Virginia is receiving PILT funding to help our local governments offset our wild and wonderful federal lands and balance their budgets. As Ranking Member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue to support the PILT program to ensure our federal lands don’t harm our local governments by restricting their budgets and instead help enhance the surrounding communities,” said Senator Manchin, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Information is updated daily on: manchin.senate.gov/coronavirus

WORKING FOR YOU

Manchin Calls for Additional Funding for WV Children’s Hospitals Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Charleston, WV – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) led a bipartisan call for additional funding for the children’s hospitals in West Virginia that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Senators said in part, “We write to thank you for your efforts to distribute funding from the Provider Relief Fund to the facilities caring for individuals infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). However, we are very concerned that a disproportionately low amount of this funding has been distributed to children’s hospitals. We respectfully request that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) move to quickly provide additional funding for children’s hospitals… Despite differences in children and adults, children’s hospitals have been impacted financially with significant loss of revenue. Many children’s hospitals have had to resort to furloughs and lay-offs at a time when they are also preparing for possible increases in COVID-19 patients or more complex cases as a result of deferred care.”

In case you missed it: MANCHIN QUESTIONS OFFICIALS ON FUTURE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION IN RURAL AMERICA

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today questioned U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials on Operation Warp Speed which oversees the research, creation, and production of a potential COVID-19 vaccine and the plans for future distribution of a potential vaccine in areas of rural America like West Virginia.

“Rural providers have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic. Across the United States COVID-19 cases are growing faster in rural areas at 13 percent compared to the national rate of 9 percent and for the second week in a row rural counties have had the highest number of cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began. West Virginia saw its single day high just yesterday. We have 12 rural hospitals that have closed with three in West Virginia. We’re concerned about rural healthcare and how the vaccine is going to be distributed in those areas to make sure we’re able to meet the rising challenges we have, and that rural providers have the necessary equipment and personnel to administer the vaccine. Rural America is getting hit hard now and we knew it would be a delayed reaction of how they’re getting hit. But we have the most vulnerable population in the country in West Virginia because of our age and type of hard work they’ve done so they have underlying health conditions too, and if it hits it’s going to be of disastrous proportions. So we need to stay ahead of that and if we have a hard time getting a vaccine when it comes, we’re really up the crick,” said Senator Manchin.

To watch Senator Manchin question HHS and CDC officials on distribution of a potential vaccine in rural America, click here.

In case you missed it: MANCHIN, HYDE-SMITH, TORRES SMALL, HAGEDORN URGE HHS TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO RURAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AFFECTED BY COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) and Representatives Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM-02) and Jim Hagedorn (R-MN-01) today led 49 Members of Congress in strongly encouraging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to quickly provide relief to rural healthcare providers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senators Manchin and Hyde-Smith and Representatives Torres Small and Hagedorn on May 21 introduced the Save Our Rural Health Providers Act (S.3823/HR.7004) to create a new formula to ensure the Provider Relief Fund has a dedicated set-aside amount directed towards rural areas of America.

The Members said in part, “Rural healthcare was already in crisis prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the situation is only getting worse. Last year rural hospitals closures hit a record high, and 2020 is on pace to be even higher. So far this year twelve rural hospitals have closed, with hundreds more on the brink. Given both the cancellation of elective procedures because of the pandemic and the recent spread of COVID-19 in rural America, rural providers have a desperate and immediate need for more funding. Therefore, we request you make this funding available quickly to provide relief to struggling rural health care providers.”

TESTING

Where can I get a test? This is a question my office has received since the beginning of this pandemic. Please note that this is not a comprehensive list; there may be more testing sites out there that are added daily. In order to provide as much reliable information as possible, I am including testing sites that are verified through an official communication or news release.

For any organizations or health care organizations who would like their site listed, or who have updates on their hours or requirements, please email me at common_sense@manchin.senate.gov .

It is recommended that you seek testing only when you begin exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. Click here to view the screening criteria. To report your symptoms and be directed to one of the available testing sites, contact your primary care doctor or a designated hotline for your area. Most, if not all, sites require a physician's order before testing. If you have gone through these steps and are still having issues getting a test, please email me at common_sense@manchin.senate.gov and a member of my staff will reach out to you to see if we can assist.

Click here for WV DHHR's latest updates to reported COVID-19 cases

Click here to find a testing site near you.

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Any new additions or updates to testing sites will be included below. The full list of verified testing sites and events is available on manchin.senate.gov/coronavirus.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020
CHARLESTON
LOCATION: Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, 108 Lee Street East, Charleston, WV
HOURS: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Testing open to everyone. No appointment necessary.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020
BLUEFIELD
LOCATION: Bluestone Family Practice Parking Lot, 3016 E. Cumberland Rd. Bluefield, WV 24701
HOURS: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
No Symptoms Required to be Tested, for More Information call 304-800-5923

FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2020
DUNBAR
LOCATION: Shawnee Sports Complex, One Salango Way, Dunbar, WV
HOURS: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Testing open to everyone. No appointment necessary.

RESOURCES

Our office is working diligently to bring you the most up-to-date information as it becomes available. Click the links below for more information. All information regarding resources and more can be found on Senator Manchin's website.

Unemployment & Direct Payments

Veterans Assistance

Basic Needs

Business Assistance

Volunteer

Feeling Ill?

WV 211:

United Way of West Virginia provides an important service to West Virginians by helping users navigate the vast number of resources available to aid with healthcare issues, food shortages, mental health questions and more. This program is more important now than ever as we battle the COVID-19 pandemic and I commend United Way for continuing to serve their fellow West Virginians through this time.

United Way’s new 2-1-1 will make information on a wide variety of local support services more accessible across our entire state,” said United Way of Central WV President, Margaret O’Neal. “Whether it’s information for locating a health clinic, finding child care programs, or getting housing assistance, 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember, go-to resource for individuals and families.

To utilize these resources West Virginians can:

Call 2-1-1
Text your zip code to 898-211
Visit http://www.wv211.org/contact
Call toll-free 1-833-848-9905

__________________________

Any new or updated resource information will be posted below. All information is available and updated daily on manchin.senate.gov/coronavirus.

UPDATE: The SBA Paycheck Protection Program has reopened for applications. If you are a business owner, have not yet applied for a PPP loan, and need help keeping your workforce employed during the coronavirus pandemic, you can apply through August 8 by visiting: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program .

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

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