As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am in a unique position to fight for investments in our West Virginia communities. In February, I sent a letter to President Trump describing the specific priorities I believe will benefit our state and this nation. I asked that as he and his administration draft their budget for fiscal year 2018, that he should consider provisions that will benefit the hardworking people of the great state of West Virginia, who were too often overlooked by the Obama administration. From there, I met with my colleagues, community leaders, local elected officials, and experts to further advocate for what I believed would benefit the people I represent. I am proud to say that many of my priorities were included in the funding bill for fiscal year 2017 such as significant funding for programs like Head Start and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program (SNAP) to support our children as they grow and learn.

In West Virginia, we believe our children are our greatest treasure, and we value them above all else because we know they are our future. Nearly half of all infants and one-quarter of all young children in our state have utilized Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) services. Our food banks rely on federal support to provide meals to our friends and neighbors in need. These programs ensure West Virginia children do not go hungry, and I will always fight to ensure they are well funded. Programs like Head Start help ensure that every child in West Virginia has access to a quality education and the other important resources they need to succeed.

I am pleased to report that this funding bill reflects significant investments in these programs that help so many West Virginia families. In fact, Congress included $9.25 billion for Head Start, $6.35 billion for WIC funding, and $78.48 billion for SNAP which reached 357,000 West Virginians in fiscal year 2016.

Programs like Head Start here in Elkins make such a profound difference for children and their families. These are the programs that give kids the strong start in life they deserve, lift up families and strengthen communities. They are made possible by so many dedicated people who give of themselves to help others, and the federal government should continuing being the steadfast partner that keeps these programs strong.

This funding bill makes significant investments in the future of West Virginia, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with President Trump and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure we are prioritizing communities over partisanship and continuing to invest in our nation’s future.

Joe Manchin III, D, is the senior U.S. senator from West Virginia.