Press Releases
Bipartisan, Bicameral Group of Lawmakers Support Pill Mill Crackdown Legislation
WASHINGTON - During the 23rd annual National Red Ribbon Week to promote drug abuse prevention, a bipartisan group of lawmakers from the United States Senate and House of Representatives have come together in support of legislation that will combat the nation's fastest growing drug epidemic - prescription drug abuse. United States Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) have joined Congressmen Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Edward Markey (D-MA) in introducing the Pill Mill Crackdown Act of … Continue Reading
October 26, 2011
Commonsense Ideas for a Stronger America: Manchin Hosts Roundtable on Drug Abuse and its Effect on Jobs with Community, Law Enforcement Leaders
Beckley, W.V. - On the third day of his "Commonsense Ideas for a Stronger America" tour, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin held a roundtable with community leaders in Beckley today to discuss the need to fight drug abuse so that employers can fill their open jobs and parents can provide for their families. Senator Manchin is working with local leaders, federal and state law enforcement officials, educators and families to combat drug abuse in West Virginia and counteract its effects on the workforce. … Continue Reading
October 25, 2011
Manchin Statement on Qarmat Ali Report
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today issued the following statement about a Defense Department report detailing what happened to 122 West Virginians in the National Guard who were exposed to potentially lethal levels of chemicals in Iraq. Nearly a year past its deadline, the Office of the Inspector General at the Department of Defense released its final report explaining the circumstances around the chemical exposure, which took place at Iraq's Qarmat Ali water treatment … Continue Reading
October 25, 2011
Commonsense Ideas for a Stronger America: Manchin Unveils Bill for Job Retraining
Manchin also visits students at Parkersburg-area high schools to emphasize importance of education Fairmont, W.V. - With more than three million American jobs going unfilled because workers don't have the skills needed for the positions available, and with unemployment nationwide stuck at about 9.1 percent, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today unveiled commonsense legislation to better match the unemployed with existing jobs. Senator Manchin unveiled his Retrain for Work Act, which … Continue Reading
October 24, 2011
Manchin Rebukes Afghan President Karzai For Choosing Pakistan Over United States
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) released the following statement about Afghan President Hamid Karzai's remarks that his country would support Pakistan in a hypothetical conflict with the United States. "Now more than ever, President Karzai's insult to America tells me that it's time for our country to stop pouring our limited taxpayer dollars and losing precious American lives in a country where we aren't even welcome - and even worse, where they have the gall to … Continue Reading
October 24, 2011
Manchin Announces ‘Rebuild America Jobs Act’ On His Tour Of ‘Commonsense Ideas For A Stronger America’
Charleston, W.V. - With American roads and bridges crumbling, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today announced he is cosponsoring the Rebuild America Jobs Act to invest $60 billion in infrastructure as he kicked off his weeklong "Commonsense Ideas for a Stronger America" tour. "I didn't go to Washington to be part of the problem or to play blame games, I went to be part of the solution," Senator Manchin said. "So today I am proud to announce that I am introducing the Rebuild America Jobs … Continue Reading
October 21, 2011
Manchin Statement on Troop Withdrawal from Iraq
"This is a great, happy day and I am so pleased that we will soon welcome home the brave men and women who have been serving this country in Iraq. While we celebrate this milestone as a country, we should never forget the servicemembers who are not returning home, the families who mourn them and all those who have sacrificed and have been injured in the line the duty. "While we can all be pleased that the military mission is over, I also urge the President to stop pouring billions of American … Continue Reading
October 21, 2011
Monday: Manchin Kicks Off Weeklong Focus on ‘Commonsense Ideas for a Stronger America’
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) will travel across West Virginia next week for a tour highlighting "Commonsense Ideas for a Stronger America." During the week, Senator Manchin will highlight the commonsense ideas that made this country strong in the past and will again help build a stronger West Virginia and a stronger America: investing in infrastructure, supporting education and retraining, fighting drug abuse in our communities, reining in job-killing regulations and … Continue Reading
October 20, 2011
Manchin Offers Commonsense Amendment to Save Jobs and Stop Creating More Debt
Washington, D.C. - In a floor speech tonight, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) offered a better way to keep teachers and first responders' jobs and stop the federal government from digging the country even deeper into debt. With the Senate poised to vote on a $35 billion measure to give states money for teachers and first responders, Senator Manchin described his amendment to provide the funding as loans instead of grants. "In my state of West Virginia, we didn't have major layoffs … Continue Reading
October 20, 2011
Manchin, Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Coal Ash Recycling Legislation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today joined a bipartisan group of Senators to introduce the Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2011, legislation that will ensure the safe and effective disposal of coal combustion residuals, a byproduct of coal-fired electricity generation that is also recycled as a valuable building material. Under this legislation, states could set up their own permitting program for the management and disposal of coal ash that is based on … Continue Reading
October 20, 2011
Manchin Statement On Gadhafi Death
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) issued the following statement regarding Moammar Gadhafi's death. "Today is a historic moment for the Libyan people, and now is the moment for the people of Libya to take control of their own destiny and embrace a new peaceful future as a democratic state," Senator Manchin said. "I have always been concerned about the costs of the United States getting involved in foreign conflicts, especially spending taxpayer money and sending our … Continue Reading
October 19, 2011
Manchin Questions Afghan, Iraq Commission About U.S. War Commitments
Washington, D.C. -- In a Senate hearing today about spending and waste in foreign wars, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) questioned why the United States is Afghanistan's largest employer and expressed his disbelief that anyone could call the U.S. efforts anything other than nation-building. "The American people should be truly appalled that the United States is the largest employer in Afghanistan, that we build more roads and bridges and schools there than anyone else and that some … Continue Reading
October 19, 2011
Manchin Statement on 3.6 Percent Cola Increase
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) issued the following statement about the 3.6 percent cost-of-living increase announced today for Social Security recipients in 2012. "Keeping our promises to seniors is one of the most important priorities for our government, and I was pleased today to learn that our seniors who have sacrificed so much for this country will get a fair cost-of-living increase. Especially in this tough economy, when it's only gotten more expensive to buy … Continue Reading
October 18, 2011
Rockefeller, Manchin, Rahall Say Techconnect WV Funding Will Help Lay the Foundation for High-Paying Jobs in West Virginia
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin, along with Congressman Nick Rahall, (all D-WV) today announced that TechConnectWV has received $250,000 in funding through the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) that will help to diversify West Virginia's economy, and create high-wage jobs. TechConnectWV's proposal is aimed at heightening the need for technology-based economic development and providing direct assistance to startup firms and entrepreneurs - soft … Continue Reading
October 18, 2011
Manchin, Rockefeller Announce Nearly $3.15M for Rural Development Projects
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller (both D-W.Va.) today announced nearly $3.15 million in funding for rural development projects from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that will extend electricity lines, help farmers increase their energy efficiency and assist local businesses expand across areas of West Virginia. "As families tighten their belt buckles, it is important to make sure our West Virginia small businesses, especially in our most rural areas, … Continue Reading
October 18, 2011
Manchin to Super Committee: Use the Commonsense Ideas of West Virginians to Reduce Deficit
Washington, D.C. - Highlighting the commonsense ideas he's heard from West Virginians, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) urged members of the bipartisan Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to "go big" and reduce the nation's deficit by $4 trillion to restore confidence and do what is right for the nation's finances. "As all of you know, our nation faces a death spiral of debt. The debt crisis facing our country has reached epic proportions, and as our nation's leaders, we must … Continue Reading
October 17, 2011
Manchin, Rockefeller Announce More Than $3.5M to Improve Parkersburg Transit Facility and Replace Monongalia Co. Buses
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller (both D-W.Va.) today announced more than $3.5 million in federal grants to build a new transportation facility in Parkersburg and to replace rundown buses in Monongalia County. The project is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation. "Making infrastructure improvements to our transportation facilities is an investment that helps create jobs and boost the economy here in West Virginia and across America," Senator Manchin … Continue Reading
October 13, 2011
Rahall, Rockefeller, Manchin Announce DOT Funding for Tri-State Transit Authority
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), along with Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin (both D-W.Va.), Thursday announced that the Tri-State Transit Authority (TTA) has been awarded a $2.6 million grant for its facility and fleet in Huntington. "Transit is an essential part of any vibrant community's economy, and our state's transportation system is the lifeline for West Virginians, from our most rural communities to our urban city centers," said Rahall, top Democrat on the … Continue Reading
October 13, 2011
Manchin to Deliver Remarks at Funeral of Mike Puskar
Washington, D.C.-U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) will speak today at the funeral of his dear friend Mike Puskar, who passed away Friday. The funeral will be held at 3 p.m. at the Waterfront Place Hotel in Morgantown. The full text of his remarks - as prepared for delivery -- are included below. "Only a few people in your lifetime stand out as people of the highest caliber, people who truly care about making the world a better place not only for the present generation, but also for … Continue Reading
October 12, 2011
Manchin Statement Opposing Free Trade Deals
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D.W.Va.) issued the following statement in advance of voting against the Colombia, Panama and Korea free trade agreements in the Senate tonight. "With a jobs crisis in this country, we need to do everything in our power to create jobs here in America - and that starts with keeping the jobs we have, not sending them to other countries," Senator Manchin said. "We have done enough exporting jobs, and it's time to rebuild America. If we want to save … Continue Reading
