[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 743 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 743

Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States Postal Service 
 should issue a commemorative stamp honoring the Nation's coal miners.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 26, 2012

Mr. Barletta (for himself, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Marino, Mr. Roe of Tennessee, 
Mr. Rahall, Mr. Critz, Mr. Meehan, Mr. Pitts, Mr. Stivers, Mr. Bachus, 
    Mr. Rogers of Kentucky, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Dent, Mr. Thompson of 
   Pennsylvania, Mr. Platts, Mr. Johnson of Ohio, Mr. McKinley, Mr. 
 Shuster, Mr. Young of Alaska, Mr. Gerlach, Mr. Holden, Mr. Murphy of 
Pennsylvania, Mr. Doyle, Mr. Bartlett, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Schilling, 
Mr. Fleischmann, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Grimm, Mr. Chabot, 
    and Mr. Costello) submitted the following resolution; which was 
      referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States Postal Service 
 should issue a commemorative stamp honoring the Nation's coal miners.

Whereas the Nation is greatly indebted to coal miners for the difficult and 
        dangerous work they perform 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 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;
Whereas thousands of 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 491 
        billion tons, with an estimated 263 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 25 percent 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 best known oil reserves;
Whereas, since the energy crisis 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 benefits far beyond its direct revenues, 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 honoring the Nation's coal miners is fitting and 
        proper: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) the Postmaster General should issue a commemorative 
        postage stamp honoring the Nation's coal miners; and
            (2) such stamp should--
                    (A) be issued in the denomination used for first-
                class mail up to 1 ounce in weight;
                    (B) bear such illustration or design as the 
                Postmaster General determines; and
                    (C) be placed on sale at such time and for such 
                period as the Postmaster General determines.
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