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December 5, 2024 - U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, at times holding back tears, delivered his final speech on the Senate floor on Tuesday.
Manchin, who grew up in the small coal-mining community of Farmington in Marion County, has served as a U.S. Senator from West Virginia since 2010. He won his seat in a special election following the passing of former democratic West Virginia Senator Robert C. Byrd.
In November 2023, Manchin announced that he would not be seeking another term as U.S. Senator. Republican Jim Justice, the current governor of West Virginia, will take over Manchin’s seat next year.
“As my time here comes to an end, I want you to know that my belief in the potential of this institution, and in each and every one of you . . . remains as strong as ever,” Manchin began. “I believe in you probably more than you believe in yourself at times.”
Manchin said that he was not elected to his office to take a side, instead he said that he was elected to represent the “American side.”
Manchin explained that his parents taught him that a good education combined with hard work and the want to help others helped him develop his core principle of “helping those who can’t help themselves.”
“Able-bodied people who fall on hard times, don’t need a continuous hand-out. What they really need is a hand-up to get back in the fight of life,” Manchin said. “I believe the greatest gift you can give someone when they’re struggling is a job. It’s not just about earning a paycheck, it’s about dignity, and purpose, and the hope to go with it.”
He added that the government should be a citizen’s partner, not their provider. And that many Americans simply need a second chance.
It’s the government’s responsibility to give them that second chance, according to Manchin. He noted the Krug-Lewis Agreement as an example.
“For example, in 1946, the federal government intervened to stop a nationwide coal strike because it was destroying our economy coming out of the war. Something had to be done,” Manchin said. “In exchange for returning to work, the United Mine Workers of America received a guarantee from the federal government that their pensions and their healthcare benefits, that they had worked for and earned, would be guaranteed for them for their life. Over the next 60 years, Congress had to step up to make good on this promise as individual coal companies’ bankruptcies threatened to take away all that they had earned.”
Manchin continued that in 2019, the system was “on the verge of collapse,” after Murray Energy declared bankruptcy. Yet, both democrats and republicans came together to keep their decades old promise.
As for his personal politics, Manchin started his career in the U.S. Senate as a democrat, but in May 2024, he registered as an independent, citing the need to remain committed to his country, not his party.
“When asked what my politics [are], I have never hesitated to tell you: ‘I’m fiscally responsible and socially compassionate.’”
Prior to serving in the U.S. Senate, Manchin served as a West Virginia Delegate and Senator, as West Virginia Secretary of State and eventually became governor of West Virginia in 2004.
However, Manchin said that while he thought he was ready for Washington back in 2010, he wasn’t entirely prepared.
“Coming here to Washington was so humbling,” Manchin said. “I kept thinking, ‘Okay, here we go. We are going to work together, just like we did in West Virginia, to solve the nation’s problems.’ . . . But, it didn’t take long for me to see that the divisions here run pretty deep.”
Despite those divisions, Manchin said that is proud of the bipartisan work accomplished for West Virginia, and for the nation.
“The New River Gorge became a national park, and we just agreed to acquire 2,700 acres at the Blackwater Canyon, which is the most beautiful venue. We’ve been trying for 20 years to make this happen, and it’s finally coming to fruition.”
Manchin added that he is proud that West Virginia has been “maintained as an energy powerhouse.”
“The Mountain Valley Pipeline is flowing, companies like Nucor, Berkshire Hathaway and Form Energy have brought new facilities to West Virginia and thousands of new clean energy jobs,” Manchin said.
Manchin also said he was proud of the work done on bringing a hydrogen hub to Appalachia, on providing more healthcare access to veterans, on protecting health insurance for those with preexisting conditions, on capping the insulin cost at $35, on combating the opioid crisis, and on the bipartisan infrastructure law.
“We not only created jobs, but we strengthened the very economic foundation of this nation,” Manchin stated.
“In West Virginia, we secured over $1.2 billion in broadband to make every resident have access to the internet by the end of this decade, and we have some tough terrain to work in,” Manchin continued. “We also secured funding to finish Corridor H. It’s only been on the books since 1964. We think we are gonna get it done.”
Lastly, Manchin said that he is proud of the work he has done to protect the “bipartisan foundation of this Senate” through the 60-vote filibuster.
“I believe in that with everything in me,” Manchin stated.
Manchin advised his fellow senators to fix the national debt, secure the border, support legal immigration, support both Israel and Ukraine, and to address inflation.
“But, there’s nothing we can’t solve if we just start working together,” Manchin said.
Although Manchin has not definitely said what his plans will be for the future, he did say that he will continue to be a presence in Washington, even if that means bringing people together on his boat.
Manchin shared that his favorite Washington memory happened on his boat “Almost Heaven.”
“We had Senators coming down one day . . . and Tom Harkin, a very progressive [former] senator from Iowa . . . was there. And he said this was the first time he had been on the Potomac River . . . and I said, ‘Good, Tom. Come sit down and have a little beverage and we’ll get things going here.” About that time, he saw Ted Cruz (R-TX) walking down the ramp to get on the boat. [Harkin] said, ‘Joe, I don’t think I can do this . . . I don’t think we can be on the same boat together.’”
Manchin remembered that he told Harkin to “give it a shot,” and by the next day Harkin and Cruz started working on legislation together.
“That’s just the power of sitting down, listening, and getting to know each other,” Manchin said. “We don’t do that much anymore.”
Manchin said he isn’t going anywhere, and that his boat will still be there for those who wish to get together.
“To my colleagues, I’ll leave you with this challenge: Every day ask yourself, ‘What have I done for my country? What have I done today?’ Not for your party, not for your donors, but for your country,” Manchin said. “After all, that’s the purpose of us being here.” |
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