Sen. Manchin Has Steered Millions in Federal Funds to Groups Linked to His Wife

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., According to a FOX business review of grants, and loans, he played a significant role in steering millions of dollars of federal funds to organizations connected to Gayle Mannchin over the last several years.

The West Virginia lawmaker He has ensured funding reached at least three of his wife’s organizations, as well as another group that indirectly benefited his wife’s fourth organization. As a moderate, Manchin – a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee that oversees federal discretionary spending bills – has taken a leading role These are key Democratic legislative priorities that President Biden has prioritized since he took office.

A spokesperson for Manchin responded to an inquiry and said that the senator was committed using his position on the Appropriations Committee. “fight for” West Virginia causes, and noted that other legislators were also involved with funding efforts to benefit his wife’s employers.

“Senator Manchin’s position on the Senate Appropriations Committee uniquely positions him to fight for causes important to West Virginia,” FOX Business spoke with the spokesperson. “The loans and grants specially outlined in this article were all announced with bipartisan support from both state and federal legislators representing West Virginia.”

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While Sen. Joe Manchin is being sworn in, he is shown next to Gayle Manchin (Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Manchin’s ability boost funding for projects involving his wife is evident in the Appalachian Regional Commission. This federal-state partnership is dedicated to boosting Appalachian regional economies. Gayle Manchin was appointed federal co-chair by the White House in April 2021.

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Since 2019, the bipartisan commission received $165 million to $200 millions in annual funding from Congress. In late 2021, it received $1 billion under the terms of the Enduring Freedom Act. Bipartisan Infrastructure LawThe legislation, which Sen. Manchin co-sponsored and championed, was passed by the Senate. Manchin, who co-sponsored and championed the legislation in the Senate, celebrated the millions of dollars that would go to West Virginia-based projects, but did not mention the ARC funding.

“As a result of the positive impact of ARC’s work in the region to support economic and community development, the Commission has received strong bipartisan support from Members of United States Senate and House of Representatives in recent years,” FOX Business was informed by Janiene Bohannon (ARC spokesperson).

Bethany College was awarded by the Department of Agriculture (USDA), in April 2018. a West Virginia school Gayle Manchin, who served as trustee between 2012-2021, received $39.6 million in loans through its Rural Development program. Tamara Nichols Rodenberg of Bethany College announced that the funds were intended to be used for college improvements. “game-changer for an institution of our size.”

On February 4, 2020, Senator Joe Manchin walks alongside his wife Gayle Manchin to the U.S. Capitol. (Alex Edelman/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Bethany College thanked Senator Manchin and West Virginia Republicans, such as Rep. David McKinley. They also thanked Sen. Shelley Moore Capito because they helped the school with the loan application process. “were instrumental in helping to secure the USDA funding.”

“As was announced via this April 2018 press release, Bethany College received a significant loan from the [USDA’s] rural development program because it met the criteria stipulated by the USDA,” FOX Business received a statement from Bethany College. “The college worked tirelessly with USDA staff for several years to complete the rigorous application process and provide the department with all the information it required to evaluate the college’s eligibility.”

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The college said that it was “customary” to keep state and federal policymakers informed about its efforts to secure the loan, which it said has proven instrumental in maintaining the college’s status as the oldest degree-granting college in the state and a “significant employer” The region.

“Bethany’s Board of Trustees was – and remains – supportive of the effort to secure the USDA loan,” The college was also added.

Sen. Manchin is a tireless advocate for the Constitution. USDA Rural Development programThe Inflation Reduction Act, which appropriated billions in funding for the program in August, was co-authored by.

Sen. Joe Manchin observes as President Biden signs August’s Inflation Reduction Act. (Demetrius Freiman/The Washington Post via Getty Images/Getty Images

In addition, in 2019, USDA awarded Reconnecting McDowell – a rural community development project in West Virginia that Gayle Manchin has worked on in various leadership roles since 2011 – a $250,000 grant. USDA stated that the grant would go towards the group’s mobile farmers markets program, which will serve 10-15 communities. It would also return $125,000 to small producers and local growers over the three-year period.

This grant was one among 49 USDA grants that were awarded as part of its Farmers Market Promotion Program, Dec. 6, 2019. The 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act was passed to expand the program. Sen. Manchin voted in favor of it. Manchin declared that it would continue to be in effect after the legislation was passed. “make a huge difference” West Virginia

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“Reconnecting McDowell is a shining example of what can be done to reinvigorate a rural community ravaged by decades of economic devastation when a wide array of partners from the public, corporate, nonprofit and foundation worlds, plus the community itself, come together,” FOX Business spoke with Leah Daughtry who is the director of Reconnecting McDowell.

“Reconnecting McDowell received two separate USDA grants unrelated to the apartment building,” Daughtry added that it was a separate Renaissance Village project. “One was for the mobile farmers market program, and the other was for a farm-to-school initiative, both of which have received glowing reviews by the USDA.”

She stated that the group had not taken any action. “one penny” In administrative fees from federal agencies

“The only other federal grant that Reconnecting McDowell was awarded was a $65,000 grant for equipment for the restaurant on the first floor of Renaissance Village,” Daughtry spoke.

Randi Weingarten, president of American Federation of Teachers speaks at an event held in Washington, D.C. (Alex Wong/Getty Images/Getty Images

Sen. Manchin and his wife appeared at a Reconnecting McDowell event last June. The event featured the following: the American Federation of Teachers (AFT)Reconnecting McDowell, one of America’s largest teachers unions, announced that it has submitted a proposal to USDA for additional funding for its mobile farmers markets program through 2025.

In the past, Sen. Manchin also stated that he has directed National Endowment for the Arts grants for the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra (WVSO) over the years. Gayle Manchin is the director of Clay Center Charleston, West Virginia.

In May 2019, Senator Manchin announced a $20,000 grant to the WVSO. In June 2021, Sen. Manchin announced that the WVSO had been awarded a $10,000 grant. And in May 2022, Sen. Manchin revealed that the WVSO was granted a $15,000 grant. Moore Capito was also a champion of the grants in separate releases.

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Senator Manchin announced that the WVSO received a $100,000 grant from the American Rescue Plan in February 2022. The WVSO stated that it would use the money to support its operations. “save jobs and to fund operations and facilities, health and safety supplies, and marketing and promotional efforts to encourage attendance and participation.”

“Gayle Manchin does not serve on the Board of the Symphony, and the Clay Center is a separate nonprofit,” FOX Business spoke with Joe Tackett as the president of WVSO. “We rent the performance space from the Clay Center, as we do many spaces around the state.”

Multiple requests for comment were ignored by The Clay Center.