[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 59 (Thursday, March 30, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           ANNIVERSARY OF THE COAL MINE HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT

                                 ______


                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 30, 1995
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, 25 years ago, the Coal Mine Health and 
Safety Act went into effect. In this era of regulatory moratoria, of 
reducing Federal regulations, and of risk assessments being applied to 
the rulemaking process, this act stands as a shinning example of the 
overwhelming benefits to society of Federal regulation and oversight.
  During November 1968, 78 coal miners lie trapped deep beneath the 
Earth in a mine near Farmington, WV. For the first time the average 
American witnessed a coal mine disaster as television coverage beamed 
this devastating incident across the Nation. They saw the horror, the 
sheer terror, on the faces of the wives and children, and of the fellow 
workers, of those coal miners. The reaction of the American people was 
swift, and it was clearly stated. Within 1 year Congress enacted the 
landmark Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, for the first time 
applying a Federal occupational safety law to a specific industry.
  More than 250 coal miners on average perished annually while on the 
job during the 3-year period prior to passage of the 1969 act. Over the 
last 3 years, the average number of coal miner fatalities has totaled 
fewer than 50. This achievement was made without a loss of industry 
productivity, or for that matter, profit.
  Mary `Mother' Jones, the union activist, after seeing the plight of 
coal miners in West Virginia during the earlier part of this century 
once exclaimed: ``When I get to Heaven I am going to tell God Almighty 
about West Virginia!'' The good Lord must have listened. Entering this 
century as the most dangerous industry in the Nation, the coal industry 
is ending it as one of the most improved, and again, without 
sacrificing productivity.
  But much more remains to be done. The improvements made since 1969 
offers little solace to the families of the 44 coal miners who perished 
in 1994. They offer little consolidation to the many coal miners who 
today suffer from the crippling affects of black lung disease.
  And so I say to my colleagues, take care in what we do when 
considering changes to our Nation's safety laws. Take care that what we 
wrought today, does not come back to haunt us in the future.


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