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.

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 success stories below:

Karen Glasscock Morris, of Farmington, contacted the Senator for assistance with her husband’s admission to the West Virginia Veterans Nursing Facility in Clarksburg.  Following Caseworker Kim Berry’s inquiry, it was learned that the admission application was incomplete.  After Mrs. Glasscock Morris received assistance with the application, she received notice that her husband was eligible for admission.

From the Hill to the Mountains

MANCHIN APPLAUDS TSA UPGRADES AT YEAGER AIRPORT
Charleston, WV – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today applauded the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for installing a credential authentication technology (CAT) unit at Yeager Airport which aims to create a more hassle free screening process for passengers. 

"As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect our daily lives, we must work together to implement new technology and procedures to reduce our risk. Today’s announcement is a great step for Yeager Airport and I am pleased the TSA is investing in our airport with this new technology. The CAT unit will help TSA officials authenticate passengers IDs and boarding passes with less contact and quicker screening, limiting passenger and staff interaction. I look forward to seeing the benefits of this new system at Yeager and will continue to advocate for funding that supports our airports across West Virginia,” said Senator Manchin.

MANCHIN, COLLINS LEAD COLLEAGUES IN INTRODUCING RESOLUTION TO DEDICATE NOVEMBER AS NATIONAL HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH AWARENESS MONTH
Washington, DC – This week, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Susan Collins (R-ME) led 19 Senators in introducing their bipartisan resolution to recognize November 2020 as National Homeless Children and Youth Awareness Month. The Senators also urged their colleagues to support the Emergency Family Stabilization Act which was introduced in June.

"Across the United States, over 1.5 million children and youth are currently experiencing homelessness and over 10,000 homeless youth in West Virginia alone. It’s simply unacceptable. Our children deserve to feel safe with a bed to sleep in night after night and food to fill their bellies. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan resolution to help raise awareness about this growing issue and the difficulties so many of our children face every day," said Senator Manchin. "This issue isn’t going away by itself and the COVID-19 pandemic is making it worse. I urge my colleagues to support the bipartisan, bicameral Emergency Family Stabilization Act which will create new, dedicated funding to assist communities that are working with children and youth experiencing homelessness. We have to work together to implement solutions that help our homeless children and youth in need."

MANCHIN STATEMENT ON 52ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE FARMINGTON MINE DISASTER
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) released the following statement ahead of the 52nd anniversary of the Consolidation Coal Company’s No. 9 Mine Tragedy in Farmington, West Virginia.

"Fifty-two years ago, West Virginia suffered an immeasurable loss when 78 brave coal miners were killed in the Farmington No. 9 mine disaster. While we may not be together this year to honor those who were lost on this tragic day, we can each remember them in our own ways. My dear uncle John Gouzd, one of my neighbors, and several high school classmates were in the mine that day. For days, we all sat around the company store waiting for updates about the fate of our loved ones. I will never forget the look on my mother’s face when she heard the news that her younger brother had died in the explosion. Our community and the entire state came together to mourn the lives we lost during that terrible disaster.

"Now, over half a century later, we continue to grieve and honor those we lost as we pray for their loved ones who still feel this loss every day. I firmly believe that even one life lost while on the job is one too many. Because of the personal impact of this disaster, I knew that when I became Governor I could make changes that would help keep our miners safe. I have been dedicated to improving safety conditions for our miners so we never have to experience this again and ensuring that all of our miners and their families are taken care of for their hard work powering America. Let us all take this time to remember those 78 West Virginians we lost, and honor their sacrifices for this nation."

MANCHIN, CAPITO ANNOUNCE FUNDING FOR HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM IN WEST VIRGINIA
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $952,686 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support three housing authorities in West Virginia. This funding comes through HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program and Mainstream Voucher Program. The HCV program grants were made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

MANCHIN, CAPITO ANNOUNCE $500K FOR NUTRITION PROGRAM IN WEST VIRGINIA
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for the West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition to increase the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables by incentivizing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipient families.

Energy Committee News

MANCHIN VOTES TO CONFIRM BIPARTISAN PAIRING OF FERC NOMINEES

Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a business meeting to consider the nominations of Ms. Allison Clements and Mr. Mark C. Christie to be Members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Ranking Member of the Committee, voted to support both nominees. Both Ms. Clements and Mr. Christie passed out of the committee by voice vote today.

"There has been a long history of bipartisan pairings when more than one vacancy arises at a time, and so today we have two very professional and unquestionably well qualified nominations from both parties before us for a vote. Although they come from very different backgrounds, Ms. Clements and Judge Christie share a common commitment to the public interest and good energy policy. That was evident by how often their views converged during their hearing. Both demonstrated an ability to work across the aisle and, in the words of FERC’s organic act, ‘to assess fairly the needs and concerns of all interests affected by Federal energy policy.’ For all of these reasons, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of reporting both of these nominees,” Ranking Member Manchin said.

MANCHIN CALLS ON SECRETARY BROUILLETTE TO RELEASE UPDATE ON APPALACHIAN STORAGE HUB REPORT

Washington, DC – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Ranking Member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, requested an update from U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette on a Congressionally-sanctioned report of a proposed Appalachian Storage Hub. The report was authorized in the Fiscal Year 2020 Appropriations bill and encourages the Department of Energy to conduct a study and issue a report on the national security and economic security benefits of a underground storage facility for natural gas liquids in Appalachia. In 2018, the Department of Energy issued a report titled, “Ethane Storage and Distribution Hub in the United States,” which examined the feasibility of establishing an ethane storage and distribution hub in the United States.

"I believe it’s similarly important as we move forward with this critical project that the Department of Energy study the economic security and national security benefits of geographical diversification of this infrastructure by siting this Hub in Appalachia,” Senator Manchin wrote in part. “I respectfully ask for an update on how the report is progressing and when your team plans to complete this critical report."

MANCHIN WELCOMES BARRASSO AS ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COUNTERPART

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today issued the following statement on the announcement that Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) will serve as the lead Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in the 117th Congress. Senator Manchin will continue serving as the lead Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in the 117th Congress.

“I was pleased to learn Senator Barrasso will join me to lead the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has a long history of strong bipartisan leadership and has served as an example for how the Senate can work when partisanship is not at the forefront. Senator Barrasso and I both come from states that are blessed with a wide array of natural resources, and I know that will serve as a basis for us to work together in the 117th Congress.”