[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 459 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 459

  Expressing the sense of the Congress that a postage stamp should be 
                      issued to honor coal miners.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 21, 2004

  Mrs. Capito (for herself and Mr. Kanjorski) submitted the following 
     concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                           Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the Congress that a postage stamp should be 
                      issued to honor coal miners.

Whereas the Nation is greatly indebted to coal miners for the difficult and 
        dangerous work they have performed to provide the fuel needed to operate 
        the Nation's industries and to provide energy to homes and businesses;
Whereas millions of workers have toiled in the Nation's coal mines over the last 
        century, risking both life and limb to fuel the Nation's economic 
        expansion;
Whereas during the last century over 100,000 coal miners have been killed in 
        mining accidents in the Nation's coal mines, and 3,500,000 coal miners 
        have suffered non-fatal injuries;
Whereas 100,000 coal miners have contracted Black Lung disease as a direct 
        result of their toil in the Nation's coal mines;
Whereas coal provides 50 percent of the Nation's electricity and is an essential 
        fuel for industries such as steel, cement, chemicals, food, and paper;
Whereas the United States has a demonstrated coal reserve of more than 500 
        billion tons, with an estimated 275 billion tons of recoverable reserves 
        which, at current production rates, represents about 275 years of 
        recoverable coal reserves;
Whereas these coal reserves represent about 95 percent of all fossil fuel 
        reserves in the United States, and about one fourth of the world's known 
        coal reserves;
Whereas the recoverable coal reserves in the United States have the energy 
        equivalent of about 1 trillion barrels of oil, which is comparable to 
        all of the world's known oil reserves;
Whereas since the energy crises of the 1970s, United States dependence on 
        foreign oil has grown substantially, with imported oil accounting for 39 
        percent of all oil consumed in 1973 and about 60 percent today;
Whereas energy security is an integral component of the Nation's economy and 
        national security;
Whereas coal mining continues to be the economic engine for many communities, 
        providing jobs to areas with little economic diversity;
Whereas coal mining provides economic benefit far beyond its direct revenue, 
        including billions of dollars in economic output and household earnings 
        and hundreds of thousands of jobs in other industries; and
Whereas issuing a postage stamp to honor the Nation's coal miners is fitting and 
        proper: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the United States Postal Service should issue a stamp 
        honoring the Nation's coal miners; and
            (2) the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee should recommend 
        to the Postmaster General that such a stamp be issued.
                                 <all>