U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) was sworn into the United States Senate on November 15, 2010 to fill the seat left vacant by the late Senator Robert C. Byrd. For Senator Manchin, serving as West Virginia's Senator is truly an honor and a privilege.
Born and raised in the small coal mining town of Farmington, W.Va., Sen. Manchin grew up learning the values that all West Virginians share — family, common sense, fairness and hard work. As a small businessman, he learned firsthand from his grandfather, Papa Joe, who was an Italian immigrant and the town grocer, the importance of serving the public. As a young man, his beloved grandmother, Mama Kay, inspired Senator Manchin's belief in public service through her unflagging compassion and desire to help those less fortunate.
As West Virginia's senior Senator, Senator Manchin is proud of the critical role the Mountain State plays in providing energy to our nation. Senator Manchin believes in an all-of-the-above energy policy and, as Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, he has doubled down on his commitment to a broad range of pragmatic climate solutions. Energy experts agree fossil fuels will continue to play a significant role in our energy portfolio for decades to come. On the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator Manchin is ensuring West Virginia coal communities have a seat at the table to discuss cleaner energy solutions and opportunities for economic development in our clean energy future. The United States, with the help of the National Energy Technology Lab in Morgantown, must continue to lead the world in developing and advancing transformational clean-energy technologies like carbon capture, utilization and sequestration, energy storage, advanced nuclear energy, geothermal, energy efficiency, solar and wind.
Senator Manchin is also working tirelessly to make the Appalachian Storage Hub a reality in West Virginia. The Department of Energy estimates the proposed Appalachian Storage Hub would create up to 100,000 jobs. The Hub would capitalize on West Virginia’s and Appalachia’s abundant natural resources, growing infrastructure and innovative spirit. The development of the Hub will help secure our energy and manufacturing future by providing a reliable, affordable supply of natural gas liquids.
Senator Manchin is a longtime advocate of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Senator Manchin successfully led the charge to permanently reauthorize the LWCF, which is responsible for the preservation of the Gauley River National Recreation Area, New River Gorge National River and Dolly Sods. Now he is leading legislation to permanently fund the LWCF. Since 1965, more than $243 million in LWCF funds have been spent in West Virginia on more than 500 projects, both on state and federal lands. This includes improvements to local parks and public spaces in 54 of West Virginia's 55 counties.