Manchin secures assurance from Majority Leader McConnell to find long-term fix for retired miners

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) voted against cloture for the continuing resolution because the 4-month proposal to fund retired miners healthcare is inhumane and unacceptable. Earlier today, he allowed a vote to move forward after speaking with Leader Mitch McConnell who promised him that the 22,800 miners who will lose their healthcare in April will not lose it and committed to working with him to come to a long term solution for retired miners healthcare and pensions.

“Majority Leader McConnell and I talked about a defined path forward for the 22,800 retired coal miners and widows who are on the verge of losing the healthcare benefits they were promised,” Senator Manchin said. “I continue to think the four month fix included in today’s Continuing Resolution is not a meaningful solution to this dire problem. That is why I opposed cloture and urged my colleagues to do the same. I believe Senator McConnell and I have come to an agreement on how we can work together to come up with a permanent solution that is worthy of these brave miners and their families. This has been a long fight and it is far from over. Everyone who joined me in this fight and opposed cloture understands that fighting for working people is what we were sent here to do.  I took my vote in honor of the retired miners that came to Washington on their own time and on their own dime over and over again. They walked the halls of Congress and sat in the Senate gallery as we debated these vital issues.  I took my vote in honor of them and their brothers and sisters all over this country. I promised them that this body will not abandon them and we will keep working to find a solution that this is worthy of them.”

To watch Senator Manchin’s full remarks on the Senate Floor before the vote, click here.

Senator Manchin introduced the bill and followed regular order. He pushed for a legislative hearing and secured passage out of the Finance Committee. The bill also has the 60 votes needed for Senate passage.

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