Press Releases
Manchin to Vote to Keep Student Loan Interest Rate Affordable
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) will vote today to prevent student loan interest rates from doubling in the 2012-13 school year, which would make it more difficult for all West Virginians and all Americans to access higher education. Without congressional action, the interest rate on federally-subsidized Stafford student loans will double from 3.4% to 6.8% on July 1. "We have to work together to prevent student loan interest rates from doubling, because every dollar … Continue Reading
May 08, 2012
Manchin, Rockefeller Call On Postal Service to Continue Moratorium and Avoid Post Office Closures in WV
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin urged the U.S. Postal Service to reconsider closing 150 post offices and consolidating mail processing centers in West Virginia as these actions unfairly target jobs and postal services in West Virginia, as well as other rural states. The Senators, in a joint letter, specifically asked the Postmaster General to extend the current moratorium on any post office closings and mail processing center consolidations in the state. Last … Continue Reading
May 07, 2012
Manchin, Rockefeller Announce Grants for Airports in Marion, Mason, Mercer Counties
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Jay Rockefeller, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Senator Joe Manchin today announced that airports in Marion, Mason, and Mercer counties will receive a total of $939,210 in federal funding to make necessary upgrades to the airports and runways, improving travel and safety at the airports. "Safety is a priority for our airfields. This funding will help upgrade these vital airports to make sure pilots, passengers, and … Continue Reading
May 03, 2012
Manchin Urges Postal Service to Extend Moratorium Preventing Post Office Closures
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today joined a bipartisan group of 43 Senators in a letter urging the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to extend its current moratorium on post office closures until after a postal reform bill is signed into law. The current moratorium is scheduled to expire on May 15. "Communities across West Virginia and the nation are facing great uncertainty about the future of their post offices," Senator Manchin said. "Right now there are 3,700 post … Continue Reading
May 01, 2012
Manchin, Rahall, Rockefeller: DOT Approves Airline Proposal for Raleigh County Air Service
BECKLEY, W.Va. - U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, top Democrat on House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; Senator Jay Rockefeller, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and Senator Joe Manchin III (all D-W.Va.) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has selected air carrier Silver Airways to provide Essential Air Service (EAS) at Raleigh County Memorial Airport in Beckley for a two-year term of service, replacing Colgan Air, which … Continue Reading
May 01, 2012
Manchin and Rockefeller Announce Expected New Air Service in Morgantown, Clarksburg
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Jay Rockefeller, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Senator Joe Manchin today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) selected Silver Airways to provide air service at Morgantown's and Clarksburg's airports. The service is currently provided by Colgan Air, but that company is ending service. "This is an excellent first step to make sure residents around Morgantown and Clarksburg maintain commercial … Continue Reading
April 27, 2012
Manchin Encourages West Virginians to Participate in National Drug Take Back Day
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) encouraged West Virginians today to turn in any expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs to locations across the state to participate in the fourth National Drug Take Back Day. The Drug Enforcement Administration has scheduled another National Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 28, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This opportunity can reduce the risk of prescription drug abuse, and increase awareness of this critical public … Continue Reading
April 26, 2012
Manchin to Vote to Protect Women and Children Against Violence
Watch Senator Manchin speak on the Senate floor here: http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/SenateSession4997/start/14951/stop/15332 Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today emphasized the critical importance of reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, legislation that the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence has called the "most critical piece of legislation affecting the safety of survivors of domestic violence and their children in every county of West … Continue Reading
April 25, 2012
Manchin Fights to Keep All Postal Facilities Open for At Least 2 Years
Manchin provision would have prevented closure of 3,700 post offices, including 150 in West Virginia, for a two-year period Provision would have saved 35,000 jobs at mail processing facilities that could still close Watch Senator Manchin speak on the Senate floor here: http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/SenateSession4996/start/16762/stop/16845 Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) urged his colleagues today to support an amendment to the Postal Reform bill that would have … Continue Reading
April 19, 2012
Manchin: ‘The Postal Service is America’
Encourages Senate colleagues to support Manchin-sponsored provision that would keep 150 W.Va. post offices open for at least two years Watch here: http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/SenateSession4994/start/4426/stop/5430 Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor to highlight the critical role that post offices play in rural communities in West Virginia. He encouraged his colleagues to support a provision he's authored that would … Continue Reading
April 18, 2012
Manchin Grills Defense Department Officials on Overreliance on Private Contractors Overseas
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) questioned Department of Defense officials at a Senate Armed Services Subcommittee hearing today about the military's overdependence on overseas service and security contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. "I'm concerned that we are cutting 100,000 service members by 2017, but no one can tell me how many contractors we are cutting," Senator Manchin said. "I can't even get an accurate figure on how many we have." Senator Manchin pointed … Continue Reading
April 18, 2012
Manchin Proposes Measure To Keep All Postal Facilities Open For Two Years
Potential closure list includes 150 locations in West Virginia Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is fighting to ensure that the 3,700 postal facilities - including 150 in West Virginia - being considered for closure would remain open for at least two years while the Postal Service considers better cost-savings measures. Senator Manchin introduced an amendment today to the postal reform bill that would allow these facilities to remain open for business and keep the … Continue Reading
April 16, 2012
Manchin: Thacker a ‘First-Rate’ Addition to Federal Bench
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) congratulated West Virginia's Stephanie Thacker today after the Senate confirmed her appointment to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Senator Manchin entered remarks into the Congressional Record congratulating Thacker and thanking his Senate colleagues for her swift confirmation. Those remarks are included below. "M. President, I rise today to congratulate Stephanie Dawn Thacker, a native of Hamlin, West Virginia, on her … Continue Reading
April 16, 2012
Manchin: Buffett Rule Would Make Tax System More Fair
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) delivered a speech on the Senate floor today supporting the Buffett Rule to make sure that some people who make a million dollars or more a year don't pay a lower tax rate than hardworking West Virginians. "We [in West Virginia] just don't understand why hardworking middle income people are paying a much higher tax rate than some of the wealthiest people in this country," Senator Manchin said. "Take our coal miners, who go to the mine … Continue Reading
April 13, 2012
Manchin Wraps Up ‘Fighting For Every Job’ Tour With Visit to Consol Energy Robinson Run Coal Mine to See New Mine Communication Technology
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) wrapped up his two-week "Fighting for Every Job" tour today with a visit to the CONSOL Energy Robinson Run Coal Mine, where he saw a demonstration of new mine communication technology. The technology is designed to allow trapped miners to communicate with rescuers on the surface in an emergency situation. "After our horrible mine tragedies in West Virginia - especially after the Sago and Aracoma disasters, and most recently Upper Big … Continue Reading
April 13, 2012
Manchin, Rockefeller, Rahall Announce More Than $514,000 to Create Jobs to Clean Up Storm Damage
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller, along with Congressman Nick Rahall (all D-W.Va.), announced today that Workforce West Virginia will receive more than $514,000 in funding through the Department of Labor's National Emergency Grant program. The funds will go toward creating 65 temporary jobs for eligible dislocated workers to help in the cleanup and recovery efforts from the devastating storms that hit areas across West Virginia in March. This grant will cover … Continue Reading
April 12, 2012
Tomorrow: Manchin Wraps Up ‘Fighting For Every Job’ Tour with Visit to Robinson Run Coal Mine to See New Mine Communication Technology
***New Event Added Tomorrow*** Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) will wrap up his two-week "Fighting for Every Job" tour tomorrow with a visit to the Robinson Run Coal Mine, where he will see a demonstration of new mine communication technology. The event is part of Senator Manchin's "Fighting for Every Job" tour, during which he is highlighting the connection between jobs and energy independence, his agenda to help small businesses succeed, how to revitalize American … Continue Reading
April 12, 2012
At Ravenswood Forum, Manchin Praises Community for Working Together to Bring Back Hundreds of Jobs, Treat Retirees Fairly
Ravenswood - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) held a "Coffee and Common Sense" event in Ravenswood today, meeting with nearly 100 community members and leaders to praise them for coming together to work to bring back hundreds of jobs at Century Aluminum and treat its retirees fairly. "Our hopes are high, and everyone's been working as hard as we can to get Century reopened, make sure the retirees get fair treatment and bring back those jobs to this community," Senator Manchin said. "It … Continue Reading
April 11, 2012
Manchin Applauds Focus on Prescription Drug Abuse at National Summit
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today applauded the work of experts and leaders from around the country who are gathered at the inaugural National Prescription Drug Abuse Summit, including Representative Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), and pledged his support to fighting the prescription drug abuse epidemic in West Virginia and around the nation. "I applaud the efforts of Rep. Nick Rahall on the very important issue of drug abuse, and I want to thank him for his participation in … Continue Reading
April 11, 2012
Manchin Holds Frank Discussion at Roundtable to Win the War on Coal
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) thanked Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, FACES of Coal, the West Virginia Coal Association, labor leaders and business leaders for holding a frank strategy session today about how to work together to win the war on coal. "Just bringing all of us together in one room proves one thing: in West Virginia, we can work together. That's why I say that creating a true all-of-the-above energy plan is not a Democratic problem or a Republican problem; … Continue Reading
