Activists arrived in boats and kayaks outside Democratic senator Joe Manchin’s yacht to protest his opposition to a multitrillion-dollar reconciliation package proposed by his own party. Representatives from Young West Virginia, Race Matters WV, Center for Popular Democracy Action (CASA) and Greenpeace USA protested outside of Manchin’s houseboat in Washington, DC. 

The protesters held signs that read “Don’t sink West Virginia,” “Manchin pass the bill,” “BBB brings jobs to WV”,  referring to US President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” agenda. The USD3.5 trillion reconciliation package is a key component of Biden’s legislative agenda. Manchin has served as the senior United States senator from West Virginia since 2010. He was the 34th governor of West Virginia from 2005 to 2010 and the 27th secretary of state of West Virginia from 2001 to 2005.

Loretta Young, executive director of Race Matters WV, said West Virginians had been trying to reach Manchin “every way we know.” She said the bill would bring jobs to West Virginia, extend the Child Tax Credit to families, and expand access to healthcare.

“Seventy-nine percent of West Virginians want this bill!” Young said in a statement. “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 D.C. today.”

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Manchin is one of around a dozen conservative Democrats in Congress opposing their party’s reconciliation package, according to Common Dreams NewsCenter. Manchin, a coal profiteer, also heads the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. 

According to campaign finance data compiled by OpenSecrets, Manchin is the Senate’s top recipient of oil, gas, and coal industry donations.

“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,” said John Noël, a senior climate campaigner at Greenpeace USA. 

He said climate-fueled disasters had cost the global economy $150 billion in 2019 and the Build Back Better Act was an opportunity to “kickstart a clean energy future and stop sending billions of our tax dollars to fossil fuel companies.”