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.
Combatting the opioid epidemic in West Virginia and across the country is one of Senator Manchin’s biggest priorities in the United States Senate. He works with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to secure the additional resources we need to fight this epidemic. He has introduced multiple bi-partisan bills aimed at supporting recovering addicts and funding programs that help addicts receive the treatment they need.
Prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing drug problem in the nation and unfortunately, West Virginia leads the nation in overdose deaths. In light of these growing concerns, Senator Manchin launched the Prescription Drug Abuse Caucus. Through this caucus, members work together with stakeholders in hopes of developing legislation and urging Congress to invest in programs that will end the ongoing opioid epidemic and prevent future drug abuse.