U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) blasted a new project to provide reliable electricity to Afghanistan while tens of thousands of his constituents are still without power and water nearly two weeks after a major storm.
"I was so surprised and disappointed to hear yesterday that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is making a massive investment in power infrastructure in another country, by awarding a $94 million dollar contract to provide reliable power in Afghanistan.
"I cannot count the number of times I have come to the floor of this Senate chamber to say it's time to rebuild America, not Afghanistan," Senator Manchin said this morning. "But in all my time in the Senate, I have not seen a starker example of misplaced priorities. It's wrong to invest in reliable power for the Afghan people when tens of thousands of West Virginians have been without power for nearly two weeks because our infrastructure is so vulnerable."
After taking his second trip to Afghanistan to evaluate the U.S. commitment there, Senator Manchin announced last year that he believes it's time to stop spending hundreds of billions rebuilding that country and instead use that money to rebuild America.
Senator Manchin encouraged his colleagues to join him in coming together to rebuild America, not Afghanistan.
"I can't say it enough: if you build a bridge in West Virginia, we won't blow it up. If you build a school, we won't burn it down. In fact, we will be very appreciative. And if you help us invest in a more reliable electric system, we will use that power to make this country stronger, to power this nation's economy, and to provide good-paying jobs."
The full text of Sen. Manchin's comments can be viewed at the link below.
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