Press Releases
Manchin Reacts to President's State of the Union Address
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) issued the following statement tonight following the President's State of the Union address: "I was encouraged to hear the President call for more bipartisanship and civility and the critical need for Democrats and Republicans to share the responsibility for governing. We worked across party lines in West Virginia, and I know that Washington can learn from our example. "I was heartened to hear the President's renewed focus on … Continue Reading
January 26, 2011
Call for Common Sense - A Tour of West Virginia
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) wrapped up his "Call for Common Sense" tour last week, a two-week trip that included more than a dozen stops across the state. Sen. Manchin used the tour as an opportunity to hear from a diverse group of West Virginians about their concerns, insights and commonsense ideas for Washington. Senator Manchin has authored an op-ed (below) about the highlights of his "Common Sense" tour of West Virginia. Newspapers and online sites in West … Continue Reading
January 26, 2011
Rockefeller, Murray, Harkin, Manchin Introduce the Robert C. Byrd Mine And Workplace Safety and Health Act
Washington, D.C.-Senators Jay Rockefeller, Tom Harkin (D- Iowa), Patty Murray (D- Wash.) and Joe Manchin III (D- W.Va.) introduced mine safety legislation to promote a culture of safety in mining and other industries. Senator Rockefeller has been a longtime proponent of strengthening workplace safety regulations and initially introduced the Robert C. Byrd Mine and Workplace Safety and Health Act in the summer of 2010. The legislation is a first step to making sure that miners in West … Continue Reading
January 25, 2011
Manchin Previews President's State of the Union Address
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today outlined what he expects and hopes to hear in the President's annual State of the Union Address this evening. His remarks are available in an audio actuality for use by radio, as well as in a Web video. The audio actuality is available here: http://demradio.senate.gov/actualities/manchin/012511_MANCHIN_SOTU.mp3 The web video is available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4YQfIbVktU … Continue Reading
January 21, 2011
Manchin Statement Honoring Retiring Major General Tackett
Charleston, W.V. - Senator Joe Manchin today presented Major General Allen Tackett with a statement he will enter in the Congressional Record honoring Major Tackett's 15 years of service as Adjutant General of West Virginia's National Guard. Below is Manchin's statement as presented to General Tackett: M. President, today I rise to recognize General Allen Tackett, the Adjutant General for the West Virginia National Guard who will retire effective January 31, 2011. General Tackett's … Continue Reading
January 20, 2011
Sen. Manchin to Introduce Bill to Prevent EPA From Retroactively Vetoing Permits
Washington, D.C. - Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) has delivered a letter to his Senate colleagues urging them to join with him and cosponsor legislation to oppose last week's unprecedented regulatory actions by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that threaten jobs and investments in every state. Sen. Manchin told his fellow lawmakers that he will introduce legislation in the coming weeks to prevent the EPA from retroactively vetoing permits that have already been granted and are in … Continue Reading
January 19, 2011
Manchin Announces Full Senate Communications Team
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) today announced the appointment of key staff members to his communications team following the recent announcement of Communications Director Emily Bittner, who will lead the department. Senator Manchin named Marni Goldberg as his press secretary in the D.C. office and Katie Longo as press assistant in D.C. Senator Manchin has previously announced that longtime aide Sara Payne Scarbro will serve as both his Deputy State Director and West Virginia … Continue Reading
January 17, 2011
Senator Manchin's Statement On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Charleston, W.Va. - Senator Joe Manchin today issued the following statement on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Sen. Manchin is currently conducting a two-week "Call for Common Sense" Tour in West Virginia and will today deliver remarks honoring Dr. King at the "Perspectives on Leadership" luncheon hosted by Vision Shared and Generation West Virginia and at the Morgantown Community Coalition for Social Justice MLK Day Celebration. "Today is a very special day in our nation's history. It's a … Continue Reading
January 14, 2011
Press Updated: Highlights of Senator Manchin's "Call for Common Sense" Tour
United States Senator Joe Manchin concluded the first week of his "Call for Common Sense" Tour Friday with a town hall meeting at the West Virginia Wood Technology Center in Elkins. The meeting - attended by about 50 people - focused on economic development, infrastructure and a discussion of ways to improve economic opportunity in West Virginia and the nation. Below, please find the highlights of the first week of Senator Manchin's "Call for Common Sense" Tour. Sen. Manchin launched … Continue Reading
January 14, 2011
Manchin, Rockefeller Announce $42,103 in Funding For Moundsville Volunteer Fire Department
Washington, D.C. - United States Senators Joe Manchin III and Jay Rockefeller (both D-W. Va.) announced today that the Moundsville Volunteer Fire Department will receive a total of $42,103 under the 2010 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. This funding may be used to purchase updated response equipment, new personal protective equipment and vehicles. The grant may also go toward modernizing the station and its facilities. "The hardworking volunteers at our local fire … Continue Reading
January 13, 2011
Senator Manchin: EPA's Unprecedented and Irresponsible Decision Jeopardizes our Economic Recovery and Jobs
Charleston, W.Va. - Senator Joe Manchin today voiced his strong opposition to the unprecedented decision by the Environmental Protection Agency to retroactively veto a coal mining permit for the Spruce No. 1 Mine in Logan County, West Virginia. The permit was already approved after an exhaustive, approximately 10-year regulatory process which included time for an extensive review by the EPA. "Today's EPA decision is not just fundamentally wrong, it is an unprecedented act by the federal … Continue Reading
January 12, 2011
Rahall, Rockefeller, Manchin Announce more than $2.9 Million for Pocahontas County
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall and Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin (all D-W.Va.), announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today released $2,922,000 in funds previously earmarked by the late-Senator Robert C. Byrd for the Pocahontas County Commission to construct a multi-purpose community center in Marlinton. "This is a major investment in Pocahontas County that will provide a much-needed, after-school facility for our youth," said Rahall, who … Continue Reading
January 11, 2011
Manchin: We Have Always Persevered By Uniting Together, And We Will Again
Charleston, W. Va. - Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) has kicked off his first statewide tour of the 112th Congress. The "Call for Common Sense" tour will include more than a dozen stops across the state, during which Sen. Manchin will hear from West Virginians about their concerns, insights, and commonsense ideas for Washington. In light of the tragic events of January 8, 2011, Sen. Manchin also believes this tour offers a unique opportunity to bridge the partisan divides that mark much of our … Continue Reading
January 08, 2011
Statement From Senator Manchin Regarding Today's Shooting in Tuscon
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) today released the following statement on the shooting of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, U.S. District Court Judge John M. Roll and several others: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of Congresswoman Giffords, her staff, and all of the innocent victims of this unspeakable and horrific tragedy. Gayle and I offer our heartfelt sympathies and pray for comfort to the families of all those killed and … Continue Reading
January 07, 2011
Senator Manchin Launching 'Call for Common Sense' Tour on Monday
Charleston, W.Va. - During the Senate's first work period of the 112th Congress, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) will travel around the state to hear from West Virginians personally about their concerns, insights and commonsense ideas for Washington. Senator Manchin's two-week "Call for Common Sense" tour will include a series of listening stops on federal issues and substantive discussions of how to bring West Virginia's values of commonsense problem-solving to Washington. "In West Virginia, we … Continue Reading
January 07, 2011
Senator Manchin Cosponsors Bill to Repeal Health Care's 1099 Provision
Washington, D.C. - Senator Joe Manchin will cosponsor the Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act to repeal the burdensome 1099 mandate, a provision that would require businesses, charities and churches to file an IRS form for any transaction greater than $600. Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE) is introducing the measure. "As small businesses struggle to make ends meet, we can't force them to take on additional burdens that any reasonable person would reject," Senator Manchin said. "Small … Continue Reading
January 06, 2011
Senator Joe Manchin Urges Incoming Speaker Boehner to Rethink Jobs-Killing Rule Change
Washington, D.C. - Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today delivered a letter to incoming Speaker John Boehner outlining his grave concerns with a proposed rule change that will threaten thousands of jobs and our economic recovery by jeopardizing annual highway and transit funding. Senator Manchin urged Speaker Boehner to reconsider the proposed change. Selected excerpts of the letter are below, followed by full text. "West Virginia has several critical transportation and infrastructure … Continue Reading
January 05, 2011
Rockefeller, Manchin, Rahall Announce $784,326 in Funding for Fire Departments Across West Virginia
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin III, (both D-W.Va.), along with Congressman Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), today announced that the following fire departments will receive a total of $784,326 as part of the fifth round of funding under the 2010 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. The following fire departments were awarded grants: Rainelle Volunteer Fire Department ($63,935) Benwood Volunteer Fire Department ($570,000) West Hamlin Volunteer Fire … Continue Reading
January 05, 2011
Senator Manchin Selects Emily Bittner as Communications Director
Washington, D.C. - Senator Joe Manchin has named Emily Bittner, a West Virginian and former communications director for the Democratic Governors Association, as his DC-based communications director. "Emily is uniquely qualified for this work: She grew up in West Virginia, she is sharp, hard-working, and she understands how to communicate a commonsense approach to government," Senator Manchin said. "From her work with the Democratic Governors Association to her time as a reporter, she is a … Continue Reading
January 04, 2011
Joe Manchin: Together We Can Make a Real Difference
I ran for the U.S. Senate to make a meaningful difference, to bring commonsense values to Washington and, above all else, to stand up for West Virginia families and our way of life. Over the past five weeks, after more than 31 hours of caucuses, 21 hours presiding as Senate president and 46 roll-call votes on bills, resolutions, cloture motions and nominations, I have been committed to standing up for our state and representing all West Virginians to the best of my ability. To that end, on … Continue Reading
