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MORGANTOWN-- U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin said following his latest talk with President-elect Donald Trump that he will remain in the Senate.
Manchin, D-W.Va., in a statement Tuesday said he was "humbled to be considered for the secretary of energy position," but he can best serve the state as a senator.
"I had a very productive and informative meeting with President-elect Trump. I was honored that the president-elect asked me to meet with him and discuss ways we can work together and improve the lives of millions of Americans, and the hard-working people of West Virginia," Manchin said.
Manchin had been scheduled to meet with Trump Friday morning, but the talks were pushed back to this week as Manchin fought an ultimately losing battle to get long-term funding for coal miners' health care benefits and pension plans included in the continuing budget resolution Congress passed late Friday.
Manchin, whose state voted overwhelmingly for Trump last month, said he can best serve the Mountain State in the Senate. Manchin is up for re-election in 2018.
Manchin's comments came after reports that former Texas Gov. Rick Perry has been selected to run the Energy Department. Manchin's statement did not address reports that he also was being considered for secretary of state, a post that Trump ultimately offered to Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson.
Manchin says he's committed to working with Trump's administration to find ways to pass his bill to protect union miners' health care and pensions, address the opioid crisis that's hit West Virginia especially hard, rebuild infrastructure, fix the tax code and build the economy.
Regarding the opioid crisis, Manchin on Tuesday applauded President Barack Obama for signing the 21st Century Cures Act into law.
The measure, among other things, will provide $1 billion in funding for state grants to address opioid addiction over the next two years.
"I'm pleased the president signed this much needed legislation that will address the opioid epidemic, strengthen medical research and expand access to mental health care," Manchin said.
Manchin said he and West Virginia resident David Grubb were present when Obama signed the measure. Grubb shared stories of his daughter Jessie's battle with addiction when Obama visited Charleston in October 2015 -- which Manchin credited with inspiring Obama "to put more resources toward providing treatment for the people who are suffering from opioid abuse and addiction."
"The funding will go a long way in fighting the opioid epidemic and I'm glad that this legislation was signed into law," Manchin said.