Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) released the following statement on the recent ratings released by the Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University.

Out of the 250 Senators who served between 1993 and 2018, Senator Manchin ranked 11th on the list. The Lugar Center ratings rank Senators based on bills they’ve introduced or cosponsored with members of the opposite party.

According to CQ Roll Call, Senator Manchin was the most bipartisan member of Congress when it comes to actual votes. He crossed the aisle 53.3% of the time.

“Bipartisanship isn’t just a political practice, it’s a value that I’ve lived by my whole life. Whether it’s in my political career or my private life, I have always tried to bring people together and come to a solution that everyone can live with. This value serves me well in the Senate because I believe in order to make lasting change that benefits every West Virginian, it must be done in a bipartisan way.

It’s an honor to be recognized for introducing legislation with my Republican colleagues but this isn’t the only way to forge bipartisanship. Although introducing bipartisan legislation is a great start, casting hard votes – especially in this hyper-partisan environment – is when it counts.

That’s why I am even more proud that based on voting record – the votes that decide the fate of everything from healthcare to our national defense – I am the most bipartisan Member in Congress. That’s something I take pride in and will continue to strive for because it means that I will stand up to both Democrat and Republican Leadership to do what is right for our state.

The Senate was created to ensure bipartisan compromise and although in recent decades this foundation has been chipped away at for political gain, I have always and will always think of how our Founding Fathers built this body and wanted it to operate when things get tough.”