Joe Manchin

We are determined to get it done this time.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

20 percent of the population of America lives in rural America, it is about 66 million people.

We are paying for all, the Federal Government is paying to reimburse those who were led to believe this is safe and secure and it is cheaper.

The Budget builds on the Inflation Reduction Act's new Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program by increasing the number of drugs subject to negotiation.

I have really hard concerns about the ESG because if ESG is not taken with the same light that, basically, geopolitical unrest that we see around the world, you are putting us in a very unfair advantage--or disadvantage--can be very…

And I think, you know, because they were just trying to survive, so the environment took a way, way far back seat.

We wrote it with free trade agreements for us to have a free trade agreement, we knew there had to be more of a--more of a confidence that we are going to have a pretty good supply chain and not be held hostage.

I think you did the right thing when you all made your decision on taking care of depositors, but not the bank bailout and not the shareholders.

I don't think we should do it without you all involved showing us how to structure that.

My colleagues on both sides of the aisle, as well as businesses of all sizes have expressed concern SEC has provided insufficient time for public comment.

If we are assuming that could happen, and maybe it could be the consumers, okay.

What we are concerned about is, you know, I know the EU and I am fine. I said, I don't have a problem with our allies. What I have a problem with is going to countries that we don't have what we would call a secure supply chain.

If I was capable of bringing some people together on both sides and says, listen, let's sit down and talk about what we think, that we could basically come and look at over a 3-month period to come back with a guaranteed vote on the floor…

I will vote for the debt ceiling. But I would vote with the understanding that at least we can have a conversation with a guaranteed vote in 90 days on changes we think need to be made.

If you are going to do something, rather than just now saying--they think if you set a precedent now that they are expecting the feds to bail everybody out, and I don't think that is what our intentions are.

I really believe that in my heart.

My recommendation would be, based on what we talked, with the Huaweis, and all the concerns we had, that that be a high priority of yours to ask in your budget?

The LifeBOAT Act simply says this: A penny per milligram for all manufacturers.

So to me, that would be a high priority.

Domestic manufacturing, I think you and I have talked about this before, that is needed to supply our chains.

But we don't, do we?

Thanks to our efforts, this year's Medicare Trustees Report estimated that the solvency of the Medicare Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund has been extended by 3 years--until 2031.

There is not that many rural co-ops still left.

How can we make sure that they are doing what is needed?