Joe Manchin: “I wish to thank my friend from West Virginia, my colleague, Senator Capito, for her support and leadership in our fight…”

“I wish to thank my friend from West Virginia, my colleague, Senator Capito, for her support and leadership in our fight to keep the promise made in President Truman's White House more than 70 years ago. For the past two Congresses, Senator Capito has been an original cosponsor of the Miners Protection Act with me, and I am proud to say that the healthcare portion of that bill is included in the Omnibus appropriations bill that we are set to vote on later this week. Before sending this permanent fix to the President's desk for his signature, I want to confirm our specific understanding of how the language would apply to the eligibility for benefits of the former employees of Patriot Coal, Alpha Natural Resources, and Walter Energy.”