WASHINGTON D.C. – This evening, Young West Virginia, Race Matters WV, Center for Popular Democracy Action, CASA, and Greenpeace USA brought together water-goers on the first day of flotilla protests outside of Joe Manchin’s houseboat. Kayakers and boaters came together in a celebration of unity in their support for much needed investments into healthcare, climate action, and jobs in the Build Back Better Act.
Sen. Manchin has repeatedly tried to drop anchor on this critical deal to protect his own fossil fuel and corporate interests. It’s time to put the interests of working class Americans, for whom this important investment in roads, bridges, health care, safe drinking water, and clean energy is a matter of life or death, first.
Loretta Young, Executive Director of Race Matters WV said:
“West Virginians have been trying to reach Sen. Manchin every way we know how to tell him we need this bill to bring jobs to WV, to extend the Child Tax Credit for our families, to expand access to healthcare, to fund the home care our elderly and disabled community members deserve. 79% of West Virginians want this bill! And yet, Sen. Manchin is still blocking it. He’s not listening to us, he’s listening to Big Money. That’s why we’re here at his yacht in DC today. The faith community back in WV is now praying and fasting throughout the month of September. When human intervention doesn’t do the job, what else is there but divine intervention?”
Takeiya Smith, Executive Director of Young West Virginia said:
“In West Virginia, it’s no secret that we need jobs, we need healthcare, we need to get ahead of the transition to clean energy, we need lower prescription drug prices. And the reconciliation bill provides for all that at no cost! It’s paid for by taxing the rich and big corporations, and letting Medicare negotiate drug prices. This is the moment to deliver a historic package to West Virginians and all Americans, and we need Sen. Manchin to move it forward, not hold it back. We’ve been in the streets and in his offices in WV, and now we’re here in DC, at his yacht, to tell him to listen to his constituents. Pass this bill.”
John Noël, Senior Climate Campaigner at Greenpeace USA said:
“Manchin needs to realize that the fossil fuel industry is about to keel over and we refuse to let it drag the rest of us down with it. Congress cannot fall for big oil’s false choice between a healthy economy and a healthy planet. The truth is with fossil fuels we get neither. Climate-fueled disasters cost the global economy $150 billion in 2019. Fossil fuels killed 8.7 million people globally in 2018. The Build Back Better Act is a prime opportunity to kickstart a clean energy future and stop sending billions of our tax dollars to fossil fuel companies.”
Kristin Mink, Special Projects Manager at CPD Action said:
“We’re at Senator Manchin’s yacht today, calling on him to stand up for his constituents and for the people of this country, and pass the full reconciliation bill so we can Build Back Better. We are counting on Congress to rise to this moment and pass this historic bill so our people can have access to healthcare, home care, housing, pathway to citizenship, union jobs, and climate justice. The time is now.”
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Link to photos: https://media.greenpeace.org/shoot/27MDHUWVGTYE
