Manchin to Speak At Fundraiser Hosted by Oil Industry Leaders After Defending Fossil Fuels On 7/16/21 at 10:39 PM EDT Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) was set to attend an event hosted by wealthy oil industry leaders and Republican donors days after he denounced the Democratic infrastructure bill for seeking to "get rid of" fossil fuels. Manchin was scheduled to travel to Houston, Texas on Friday for a fundraiser hosted by a committee largely comprised of Republican donors with ties to the oil and natural gas industry, according to The Texas Tribune. A copy of an invitation cover letter obtained by the news outlet says that the event is geared towards "supporting" Manchin, who the group describes as "a longtime friend, since his days as Governor of West Virginia."