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.
West Virginia’s seniors helped build this nation and Senator Manchin is committed to ensuring we keep the promises made to them. To West Virginia’s seniors, Social Security and Medicare are not just government programs, they are promises made by a thankful nation to ensure a quality of life well-earned from years of hard work and sacrifice.
Senator Manchin believes that keeping our promises to our seniors by protecting Medicare and Social Security must be our priority as we discuss responsible ways to start living within our means again. Our nation faces a serious debt crisis, and Senator Manchin will support budget fixes that are defined by our priorities based on our values as West Virginians and Americans.