[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 14 (Wednesday, February 8, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H180-H185]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING SACRIFICE AND COURAGE OF WEST VIRGINIA COAL MINERS

  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 331) honoring the sacrifice and 
courage of the 12 coal miners killed and the stamina and courage of the 
one who survived the mine disaster in Sago, West Virginia, and the 
sacrifice and courage of the two coal miners killed in the Aracoma Alma 
mine disaster, and recognizing the rescue crews for their outstanding 
efforts in the aftermath of the tragedies, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 331

       Whereas coal generates more than half of domestic 
     electricity, providing millions of Americans with energy for 
     their homes and businesses;
       Whereas West Virginia is the Nation's second largest coal 
     producing State;
       Whereas an average of 7,600 pounds of coal per person per 
     year is used in the United States;
       Whereas the United States has an estimated 275,000,000,000 
     tons of recoverable coal reserves representing about 95 
     percent of all fossil fuel reserves in the Nation;
       Whereas coal continues to be the economic engine for many 
     communities;
       Whereas coal miners are among the most productive of all 
     American workers, producing 7 tons of coal per miner per day, 
     which results in coal consistently being the most cost-
     effective choice for generating electricity in the United 
     States;
       Whereas during the last century over 100,000 coal miners 
     have been killed in mining accidents in the Nation's coal 
     mines;
       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 13 West Virginia miners were trapped 260 feet below 
     the surface in the Sago mine for over 40 hours following an 
     explosion on January 2, 2006;
       Whereas Federal, State, and local rescue crews worked 
     relentlessly in an attempt to save the miners;
       Whereas many residents of Upshur County, West Virginia, and 
     the surrounding areas came together at the Sago Baptist 
     Church to support the miners' families;
       Whereas 12 miners, Thomas Anderson, Alva Martin Bennett, 
     Jim Bennett, Jerry Groves, George Hamner Jr., Terry Helms, 
     David Lewis, Martin Toler, Fred Ware Jr., Jack Weaver, Jesse 
     Jones, and Marshall Winans, lost their lives on January 3, 
     2006;
       Whereas only one miner, Randal McCloy, was safely rescued;
       Whereas 2 West Virginia miners were trapped by a fire in 
     the Aracoma Alma Mine on January 19, 2006;
       Whereas Don Israel Bragg and Ellery ``Elvis'' Hatfield lost 
     their lives in the Aracoma Alma Mine;
       Whereas 2 West Virginia miners lost their lives in separate 
     incidents in Boone County on February 1, 2006; and
       Whereas Edmund Vance perished in the Long Branch No. 18 
     Mine and Paul Moss perished at the Elk Run Black Castle mine: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) recognizes Thomas Anderson, Alva Martin Bennett, Jim 
     Bennett, Jerry Groves, George Hamner Jr., Terry Helms, David 
     Lewis, Martin Toler, Fred Ware Jr., Jack Weaver, Jesse Jones, 
     and Marshall Winans for their sacrifice in the Sago, West 
     Virginia, coal mine;
       (2) recognizes Don Israel Bragg and Ellery ``Elvis'' 
     Hatfield for their sacrifice in the Aracoma Alma, West 
     Virginia coal mine;
       (3) recognizes Edmund Vance and Paul Moss for their 
     sacrifice in the Boone County, West Virginia, coal mines;
       (4) extends the deepest condolences of the Nation to the 
     families of these men;
       (5) recognizes Randal McCloy for his stamina and courage 
     that enabled him to survive in severe conditions for over 40 
     hours;
       (6) recognizes the rescue crews for their outstanding 
     effort resulting in the safe rescue of Randal McCloy; and
       (7) recognizes the many volunteers who provided support for 
     the miners' families during the rescue operations.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Virginia (Mrs. Drake) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George 
Miller) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Drake).


                             General Leave

  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 331.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito).
  Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the sponsor of House 
Concurrent Resolution 331 to honor the now 16

[[Page H181]]

West Virginia miners who have lost their lives in coal-mining accidents 
this year.
  I want to thank the Nation, I want to thank the Nation for their 
outpouring of concerns, prayers, and sympathy. You have fortified us as 
West Virginians.
  On the morning of January 2, an explosion rocked the Sago Mine in 
Upshur County, West Virginia. Thirteen men were trapped 260 feet below 
the surface. One, Randal McCloy, suffered serious injuries resulting 
from a lack of oxygen, yet he miraculously survived. Twelve other 
miners, Tom Anderson, Alva M. Bennett, James Bennett, Jerry Groves, 
Junior Hamner, Terry Helms, Jesse Jones, Dave Lewis, Martin Toler, Fred 
Ware, Jackie Weaver, and Marshall Winans were killed in that tragedy.
  Only 2 weeks later, another accident struck at the Aracoma Alma Mine 
in Logan County, West Virginia, taking the lives of Don Israel Bragg 
and Elvis Hatfield. Sadly, just last week, Edmund Vance and Paul Moss 
were killed in separate mining accidents in Boone County, West 
Virginia.
  These men made the ultimate sacrifice doing a job that is vital to 
our Nation. Over 50 percent of America's electricity comes from coal, 
and our West Virginia veins run with an abundance of coal. Mining is 
the profession most closely identified with West Virginia, not only 
because of our State's abundant supply of the resource, but because of 
the character of our people. Coal is in our blood; whether we work in 
the mines or not, our heritage and our souls are coal-fired. West 
Virginians are proud and hard-working people with a deep devotion to 
our country.
  Martin Toler, one of the Sago miners wrote to his family while he lay 
dying in the mine, and I quote, ``It wasn't bad. I just went to sleep. 
Tell all I see them on the other side. I love you.'' Simple, powerful 
words with great meaning. The valor of these miners is, in fact was, 
with them until the end.
  The 16 miners who died over the past 5 weeks in our State mines knew 
the dangers of their work. They knew that over the past century over 
100,000 men have lost their lives in coal mining, but they performed 
their jobs with reliability and a sense of duty to their families, 
indeed our country. Miners know just how important their jobs are. They 
know how important it is to our economy across the Nation, and they 
sacrifice for us.
  Author Homer Hickam of Rocket Boys fame, who himself grew up the son 
of a West Virginia coal miner, wrote and delivered what I thought was 
an incredible eulogy to the Sago miners. He listed a philosophy of life 
that exemplifies coal miners and, I think, all West Virginians:

     We are proud of who we are.
     We stand up for what we believe.
     We keep our families together.
     We trust in God.
     We do what needs to be done.
     We are not afraid.

  Most of the time we are not thinking of coal miners when we turn on 
the lights or sit down to watch television. It is easy to take for 
granted the constant supply of relatively inexpensive electricity we 
have in this country. It is easy to forget that somebody gave of 
themselves and risked injury or death to mine the coal that powers the 
Nation's economy.
  Today in the wake of the terrible tragedy at Sago and the death of 
the miners at the Aracoma Alma and Boone County mines, we as a Congress 
pause to remember the coal miners. We remember their hard work and 
sacrifice. We remember that each one of these men was a husband, a 
grandfather, a father, a brother and a son, and we pray for each of 
their families as they cope with the loss of a loved one. And we pray 
for Randal McCloy, who, despite improvements, faces a long road to 
recovery from his injuries.
  This resolution also stands to honor the mine rescue teams who were 
willing to sacrifice themselves to save others. Rescuers of Sago were 
eager to enter even before it was safe to do so. Once in the mine, 
these rescuers demonstrated tremendous courage. And without their work, 
it is doubtful that Randal McCloy would be with us today.
  West Virginia's communities came together during these tragedies, as 
they always do, to support their friends and neighbors. You see, in 
West Virginia, we are all family with a special closeness and respect 
for one another.
  During this time I sat and talked with the families at the Sago 
Baptist Church as we awaited news from their rescuers. The prayers and 
support of people from across the Upshur County area and the Nation was 
overwhelming at the church, and this resolution honors the commitment 
and friendship shown by these folks.
  I know that this commitment of community and family not only occurred 
in Sago, about also in Logan and Boone Counties because, as I said, in 
West Virginia, we are family.
  Through our sorrow, we recognize our duty to do our part to improve 
safety for our miners. Sixteen West Virginians have been lost this 
year. While this resolution honors their loss, their legacy must be 
safe mines. It is important that Congress, State governments, MSHA, 
mine operators, and miners themselves work in a concerted effort to 
improve mine health and safety.
  The West Virginia delegation has introduced on a bipartisan basis the 
Federal Mine Safety Act of 2006. I hope my colleagues will support this 
effort to bring enhanced technology to the mines, improve rescue teams, 
and ultimately save lives.
  We all recognize the dangers of the mining profession, but we must do 
everything in our power to make underground mining safe. I have seen 
the pain and suffering in West Virginia at Sago, Logan, and at Boone 
County, and I do not want to see that suffering again. We must act to 
prevent similar accidents.
  May God bless the lost West Virginia coal miners and their families 
and friends.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he 
may consume to the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall).
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for 
yielding me this time, and thank him for his leadership and expertise 
in helping us on mine safety legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise and associate myself totally with the comments 
just made by the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito), and I 
commend her for the very eloquent manner and touching manner in which 
those comments were made.
  It is with sorrow that we rise today to express the heaviness in West 
Virginians' hearts. Grief hangs a misty veil across our mountains. 
Since just the beginning of this year, West Virginia has lost 16 brave 
coal miners in a nightmarish series of mine tragedies. Sixteen sons 
gone in the span of a month, 16 souls that too soon slipped the bonds 
of Earth. These were good and decent men, God-fearing men, brave 
citizens, caring fathers, loving husbands, loyal friends, and generous 
neighbors who worked hard to earn an honest wage. They walked in the 
wake of risk to provide for their families.

                              {time}  1615

  These were tough men, made strong not merely by the labor of digging 
coal, but also by the work of building a Nation.
  Coal has long been the lifeblood of America's industrial engine. It 
has fueled our economic growth. It has reinforced our military might.
  But none of this would be possible without the labor of coal miners, 
who have served our Nation quietly and faithfully for generations, but 
with precious little thanks. To these men, we owe so much.
  Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of gratitude, I join with my West Virginia 
colleagues in offering this resolution and, again, commend the 
gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito) for bringing it to the 
floor. Today we celebrate the courage and stamina of Randal McCloy 
whose miraculous survival in the Sago mines was a glorious gift. We 
thank the teams of rescuers who in recent weeks have risked their own 
lives to save the lives of others in our coal fields. And we honor the 
memories of these 16 men: Thomas Anderson, Alva Martin Bennett, Jim 
Bennett, Jerry Groves, George Hamner, Jr., Terry Helms, David Lewis, 
Martin Toler, Fred Ware, Jr., Jack Weaver, Jesse Jones, Marshall 
Winans, the two from my congressional district, Don Israel Bragg, 
Ellery ``Elvis'' Hatfield, whose families I sat with for close to 40 
hours in the Melville Freewill Baptist Church as we sang, as we prayed 
together for a miracle that never happened.

[[Page H182]]

  And to the latest two, also from my congressional district, Edmund 
Vance and Paul Moss. We honor their memories. These brave men have now 
joined the ranks of so many miners before them who went to their daily 
shift anticipating the warm and loving hugs of family at day's end, but 
who emerged instead into the outstretched arms of heaven. May God bless 
them, their families and their brothers and sisters, still in the 
mines, who continue to walk in the wake of risk in service to our great 
Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with sorrow that I rise today to express the 
heaviness of West Virginia's heart.
  Grief hangs a misty veil across our mountains.
  Since just the beginning of this year, West Virginia has lost 16 coal 
miners in a nightmarish series of mine tragedies; 16 sons gone in the 
span of a month; 16 souls that too soon slipped the bonds of Earth.
  These were good and decent men--God-fearing men, brave citizens, 
caring fathers, loving husbands, loyal friends, generous neighbors--who 
worked hard to earn an honest wage.
  They walked in the wake of risk to provide for their families. These 
were tough men made strong not merely by the labor of digging coal, but 
also by the work of building a nation.
  Coal has long been the lifeblood of America's industrial engine. It 
has fueled our economic growth. It has reinforced our military might.
  But none of this would be possible without the labor of coal miners 
who have served our Nation quietly and faithfully for generations, but 
with precious little thanks. To these men we owe so much.
  Mr. Speaker, in that spirit of gratitude, I join with my West 
Virginia colleagues in offering this resolution.
  Together we celebrate the courage and stamina of Randal McCloy, whose 
miraculous survival in the Sago mines was a glorious gift. We thank the 
teams of rescuers who, in recent weeks, have risked their own lives to 
save the lives of others in our coalfields.
  And we honor the memories of these 16 men: Thomas Anderson, Alva 
Martin Bennett, Jim Bennett, Jerry Groves, George Hamner, Jr., Terry 
Helms, David Lewis, Martin Toler, Fred Ware, Jr., Jack Weaver, Jesse 
Jones, Marshall Winans, Don Israel Bragg, Ellery ``Elvis'' Hatfield, 
Edmund Vance, and Paul Moss.
  These brave men have now joined the ranks of so many miners before 
them, who went to their daily shift, anticipating the warm and loving 
hugs of family at day's end, but who emerged, instead, into the 
outstretched arms of Heaven.
  May God bless them, their families, and their brothers and sisters 
still in the mines who continue to walk in the wake of risk in service 
to our Nation.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  This year, 21 miners have lost their lives in mining accidents. Our 
thoughts and prayers are with their families. Today, we honor the 16 
men who have died in West Virginia's coal mines and the lone survivor 
of the Sago mine accident. We also recognize members of the mine rescue 
teams who put their own lives on the line to try to save their fellow 
miners.
  On January 2, 2006, the Nation watched, waited, hoped and prayed that 
13 men trapped in the Sago mine would return to the surface alive. Then 
the Nation was stunned when we learned that 12 men had died. Only one 
survivor, Randal McCloy, returned to the surface alive. Two more miners 
were lost at the Alma mine, despite the courageous efforts of the mine 
rescue teams. And just last week, two more miners died in Boone County.
  The first 6 weeks of 2006 have seen an unprecedented loss of life in 
West Virginia's recent mining history. Working with the State of West 
Virginia, the Mine Safety and Health Administration has begun 
investigations into these accidents. The agency also has announced an 
internal review to ensure that all the regulations and procedures under 
the Mine Safety and Health Act were followed.
  In response to concern about MSHA's Freedom of Information Act 
policy, Chairmen Boehner and Norwood and Representative Capito wrote to 
Secretary of Labor Chao to secure changes that would provide for 
greater disclosure of important information. Prior to this action, 
inspectors' notes and other information related to MSHA citations would 
not have been disclosed until a case exhausted all appeals. This 
important change will allow miners and their families better and 
quicker access to information regarding citations and inspectors' 
notes.
  Only a thorough investigation will pinpoint the cause of these tragic 
events. Congress must ensure the investigation proceeds as efficiently 
as possible, and then consider any proposed changes to our Federal mine 
safety laws and regulations that will help ensure that tragedies of 
this kind do not happen again in the future.
  Mr. Speaker, along with the rest of the Nation, we extend our 
condolences to the impacted families in West Virginia.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he 
may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Owens).
  (Mr. OWENS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, the resolution before us today is one that 
demands our attention, and I hope it is attention in more than just a 
ceremonial memorial way. It demands our attention for future action.
  This resolution pays tribute to 17 courageous and hardworking West 
Virginia miners and their families, as well as the many rescue team 
members mobilized to save them in the face of last month's lethal 
accident at Sago mine, a subsequent fire at the Aracoma Alma mine, and 
2 other mine incidents. Despite intense rescue efforts, 12 brave miners 
were killed at Sago, as we all know. We honor them with this 
resolution, and we grieve with their families, friends, and neighbors 
who will miss them terribly. We also honor the sole survivor of those 
miners trapped by the Sago explosion, commending his courage and 
perseverance. We wish him and his extended family all the best 
throughout the long and arduous recovery process that he faces.
  We also honor the 2 miners killed in the Aracoma Alma fire and 2 
other killed in sepatate incidents in WV coal mines. All of the miners 
I just spoke of, and you heard their names read earlier, are referenced 
by name in this resolution. It is our hope that the family members and 
descendents of these hardworking men will find this resolution and our 
statements in their honor a source of solace as well as inspiration for 
many years to come. For we intend that their names and personal 
histories will be immortalized, so to speak, inscribed within a public 
law that Americans may read and refer to from this year forward.
  But Members of Congress are not poets by nature, nor should we be. In 
addition to enacting this commemorative resolution, we must do far more 
to honor these West Virginia mine workers. We must take critical and 
immediate steps to ensure that all of the other mine workers from West 
Virginia and throughout the Nation get the safe workplace environments 
they need and deserve.
  One speaker has already pointed out that a large percentage, about 
half of the electricity produced in America, is produced by coal. 
Throughout the world, coal is a major fuel producing electricity. Huge 
mines in Russia and China, and elsewhere, in many of these places their 
mines are perhaps often not as safe as ours. But there are some places 
obviously with mines that are safe, safer than ours. There are 
obviously technologies available which will avoid the kind of 
catastrophe we experienced here or at least minimize that kind of 
catastrophe.
  I hope that all of us have read about the accident in the Pot Ash 
mine in Canada where a number of workers were trapped in an explosion 
and they all got out safely. It was pointed out that while they were 
waiting to be rescued, there were some cubicles or little cubby holes 
that they were able to go into and there they found extra oxygen, they 
found sandwiches and food and a number of things were stored there. And 
it had all been prepared ahead of time in case an accident should 
happen.
  I doubt if the bottom lines of the profits for the coal mines were 
greatly affected by preparing those kinds of emergency arrangements. I 
think that we ought to take a hard look at the fact that there is 
technology available, there are techniques available to save miners' 
lives. There are places in the world where mine safety is made a 
priority. But nobody should be ahead of

[[Page H183]]

America. No worker should be treated better than our workers in the 
effort to provide safety.
  Congressional committees must conduct the requisite oversight 
hearings to determine whether Federal funding shortfalls or staffing 
shortfalls or rule-making snafus at the Mine Safety and Health 
Administration, MSHA, played any role in the two WV mine tragedies. And 
if that is the case, then we must fix any such problems without delay. 
For such subsequent congressional action will serve equally as a 
fitting and altogether appropriate tribute to the West Virginia men and 
their families, as well as rescue team members we honor today.
  Thus, I urge my colleagues both to pass this resolution and to 
undertake all other congressional actions, from oversight to 
authorizing and appropriations legislation, essential to protecting 
America's hardworking miners and their families.
  Mr. Speaker, the resolution before us today is one that demands our 
attention. It pays tribute to 17 courageous and hard-working West 
Virginia miners and their families, as well as to the many rescue team 
members mobilized to save them in the face of last month's lethal 
explosion at Sago Mine, the subsequent fire at the Aracoma Alma Mine 
and two incidents at other WV mines. Despite intense rescue efforts, 
twelve brave miners were killed in the Sago disaster, Thomas Anderson, 
Alva Martin Bennett, Jim Bennett, Jerry Groves, George Hamner Jr., 
Terry Helms, David Lewis, Martin Toler, Fred Ware, Jr., Jack Weaver, 
Jesse Jones, and Marshall Winans, and two brave miners at Aracoma Alma, 
Don Israel Bragg and Ellery ``Elvis'' Hatfield. Also, two other miners, 
Edmund Vance and Paul Moss, were killed at other WV mines. We honor 
them with this resolution and grieve with their families, friends and 
neighbors who will miss them terribly. We also honor the sole survivor 
of those miners trapped by the Sago explosion--Randal McCloy--
commending his courage and perseverance. We wish Mr. McCloy and his 
extended family all the best throughout the long and arduous recovery 
process he faces.
  All the miners I just spoke of are referenced by name in this 
resolution, which I am very pleased to cosponsor. It is our hope that 
family members and descendants of these hard-working men will find this 
resolution and our statements in their honor a source of solace as well 
as inspiration for many years to come. For we intend that their names 
and personal histories will be immortalized so to speak, inscribed 
within a public law that Americans may read and refer to, from this 
year forward.
  But Members of Congress are not poets by nature, nor should we be. In 
addition to enacting this commemorative resolution, we must do far more 
to honor these West Virginian mineworkers. We must take critical and 
immediate steps to ensure that all the other mineworkers, from West 
Virginia and throughout the nation, get the safe workplace environments 
they need and deserve. We must ensure that the appropriate 
Congressional committees conduct the requisite oversight hearings to 
determine whether federal funding shortfalls, staffing shortages, or 
rulemaking snafus at the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) 
played any role in the Sago, Aracoma Alma, and other mine tragedies. 
And if that is the case, then we must fix any such problems without 
delay. For such subsequent Congressional action will serve equally as a 
fitting and altogether appropriate tribute to the West Virginia men and 
their families, as well as rescue team members we honor today. Thus, I 
urge my colleagues both to pass this resolution and to undertake all 
other Congressional actions--from oversight to authorizing and 
appropriations legislation--essential to protecting America's 
hardworking miners and their families.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murphy).
  Mr. MURPHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to solemnly support House Concurrent 
Resolution 331 that mourns the loss of so many coal miners from the 
Sago and Alma mine disasters and, quite frankly, it is a time for us to 
remember so many other coal mining disasters. The victims as well as 
the rescue crews who fought bravely to get them to safety ought to be 
recognized in the aftermath of this tragedy. But now our deepest 
sympathies are with the families and friends whose lives have passed.
  I feel a special affinity to these miners, my own great-grandfather 
having been a coal miner in Pennsylvania, and while I was a student at 
Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, I spent so much time working in 
towns and volunteer work in mining towns in West Virginia, among them 
being Mann, West Virginia where the great Buffalo Creek flood disaster 
hit when a dam from a coal mine collapsed and wiped out so many people 
in that town.
  It is a rough life for coal miners and coal mining towns, for the 
families, the wives and loved ones who sit and wait each time the 
elevator goes down into the shaft. The struggles and the hard scrabble 
life is so often immortalized in songs and folk songs over the years. 
And they are true, indeed, for the life is difficult for men and women 
who work in the mines and recognize the dangers and the constant safety 
that the mine operators must attend to.
  It is also time to recognize that there are teams of people out there 
who did so much and responded so quickly, in particular Consol Energy, 
which had all five of their West Virginia teams and three Pennsylvania 
teams first on the site to try and help. We wished and we prayed so 
much that this would not have ended as it did. Instead, we had hoped 
that perhaps it would have been what happened at Cue Creek mine 
disaster of a couple of years ago in Pennsylvania when we all waited 
and watched with our eyes glued to our televisions as nine miners 
emerged from the mine late at night.
  We wished for that. We prayed for that. Sadly that did not happen. 
And sadly, there may be other disasters of this type, but we must work 
hard to set the goal that it never happens again. We know that coal is 
a vital part of American energy. We know that coal and all the things 
that come out of manufacturing related to coal are a vital part of our 
country's economy. And the men and women who continue to work in the 
mines down below or on the surface are all part of that dedication and 
their willingness through their courage to give so much every day.
  And then finally, perhaps, what we have to make sure we do, as the 
gentlewoman from West Virginia was saying, is work very hard with 
rescue teams and strong safety regulations for mines and enforcement of 
those regulations to prevent these tragedies from happening again. It 
is only through such actions that we would fittingly remember those who 
have come before us and died, and those who may come in the future and 
be suffering as well. That is the very least we owe their families. And 
as we honor those who have lost, we need to work towards that safety 
for those miners and their families for the future.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, and Members of the House, I am honored to join in 
support of this resolution offered by our colleagues from West Virginia 
and to join our colleagues in paying tribute to these 16 brave miners 
who lost their lives last month in West Virginia, and also to the miner 
who lost his life in Pike County, Kentucky, who died during the mine 
roof collapse, and to express the condolences to their families and to 
their friends who have lost loved ones.
  We continue to hope and pray for the full recovery of Randal McCloy 
who lived through this ordeal at the Sago mine disaster, and wish him 
well. I join, I am sure, our entire Nation in recognizing the sacrifice 
of these individuals. And I want to salute the efforts of dozens of 
brave rescue workers who volunteered to risk their own lives to save 
others and the efforts of citizens of the affected communities who 
continue to help and to support the families of victims and to deal 
with their loss.

                              {time}  1630

  Despite a half century of improvements in mine safety, the truth 
still remains that underground mining continues to be one of our 
country's most dangerous occupations. It is also an occupation that we 
recognize many people would have a very difficult decision to make to 
join this occupation. It is one of the reasons we talk about the 
bravery, the courage, and the sacrifice of these workers and those who 
entered the mines after the disaster to join them, because we recognize 
that many of us would not want to do this.
  But we also understand that just a week ago the President was here 
telling us the importance that coal would make if we really want to 
achieve energy independence for this Nation for a whole host of reasons 
that are very

[[Page H184]]

good for this Nation. Then we continue to need to have the sacrifice 
and the courage and the bravery of the mining community and of these 
communities to send their young men and women into the mines. But if it 
is about their bravery and their courage and their sacrifice, then our 
obligation is to meet their bravery with the duty of care.
  There is no question that our progress in making mining a safer and 
healthier occupation than it has been in the past has been remarkable, 
but the Sago tragedy shows us that our job is not done. Death, 
injuries, and serious illnesses remain a very real part of those who go 
down into the mines and to their families and their communities and the 
brave men and women who help when the safeguards fail.
  The men and women who need the solid incomes provided by mining jobs 
face difficult choices every morning before they go to work and see 
their loved ones at the door. I think the way that we truly honor their 
courage, their sacrifice, and their bravery, and these miners who have 
lost their lives and the volunteers who helped out and the grieving 
families and the communities, is to make the promise, as the 
gentlewoman from West Virginia said, that part of their legacy is safer 
mines and a safer occupation and a safer future for their children and 
their grandchildren and others who will go down into the mines. That 
means that we must meet our duty of care to these miners to make sure 
that we fully understand where the failures took place, where the 
improvements can be made, and where the risk is unacceptable.
  Mr. Rahall and his West Virginia colleagues have already introduced 
legislation that deserves immediate consideration to make certain 
improvements in standards and operations of the Mine Health and Safety 
Administration. I am delighted that they already received a partial 
response to that with the Agency engaging in emergency temporary 
standards to require coal operators to maintain additional self-
contained, self-rescue devices in storage areas within underground coal 
mines, and to require coal operators to notify the Agency within 15 
minutes of an accident. This is quite properly done on an urgent and 
emergency basis. I have urged the Education and the Workforce Committee 
to immediately commence oversight hearings to help us to determine the 
actions that would help strengthen the agency so that it can carry out 
the important responsibilities we have vested in it and what they owe 
the workers in the mines.
  Next week, Monday, February 13, my colleagues and I are sponsoring a 
mine safety forum. We have invited the miners and their families and 
mine safety experts to share their views on how Congress and the 
Department of Labor can make mine safety enforcement more vigorous and 
effective.
  It seems clear to me that there are serious questions regarding this 
administration's track record on mine safety that the employees and 
families of the Sago and Aracoma Alma mines have a right to know. I 
think we have to know the impact of the changes in the regulations and 
the regulations that were withdrawn in 2001 and the regulations that 
were implemented in their place. What was the margin of safety? Was 
there a change in that margin of safety, and did they have impact on 
the overall mine safety in the mine? We know that some of those 
regulations that were withdrawn at that time are now seen as urgently 
needed, as I just recited, from the response to the West Virginia 
delegation by the mining agency, safety standards for oxygen and 
breathing devices, standards for flame-resistant conveyor belts that 
Mr. Rahall has raised, and that their withdrawal may have undermined 
the safety at Sago and Aracoma Alma mines.
  We want to know what is the relationship between the drop in maximum 
fines and the usage of fines. Are fines helpful? Do they deter bad 
behavior? Do they, in fact, make for improvements to take place?
  What is the relationship between the mines and those who are repeat 
offenders of serious violations of the current mine safety regulations 
and the protections that are put in place for those miners? Should they 
be dealt with in a different fashion? Do we fully understand the 
voluntary compliance assistance program that is currently in place? 
Should that continue to be extended to those mine owners that, again, 
repeatedly violate the law?
  What is the relationship between the voluntary nature of the program 
and the compliance and the margins of safety that we expect for these 
miners?
  Does the administration have the right people in the right place for 
the running of this Agency? Are their qualifications commensurate with 
the duties that they have to the miners in the field, and are we sure 
that we have the best people to continue the downward trend of mine 
fatalities in the mine, but also the general safety environment within 
the mines?
  And we want to make sure that, in fact, the Department of Labor has 
kept pace with existing mine safety technologies, such as electronic 
tracking and communications devices and reserve oxygen chambers, 
technologies used in other countries, in some cases in other mines in 
this country, but clearly are not mandated. But we now see, as we start 
to do the forensics of what took place here, that maybe these things, 
had they been in place, these miners would have had the opportunity to 
walk out of that mine. These miners may have had a chance to shelter in 
place until rescuers could have gotten to them if they did not 
understand their ability to work their way around the danger that 
presented itself.
  So these are the questions that the miners and their families will 
address in the forum. These are the questions that must be addressed by 
the administration, and these are the questions that must be addressed 
by this Congress, and must be addressed by this Congress in an 
independent fashion.
  I am not sure I entirely agree with my colleagues on the other side 
that we must await the administration's doing its own investigation and 
hearings prior to our embarking upon that effort. I think that we ought 
to ask these people to come before the Congress and to explain the 
situation that we see.
  Again, this is about the legacy of these miners' lives. It is about 
the future of mining in this country. It is about our responsibility to 
these individuals, to their families, to these communities. Again, it 
has been made clear that coal is going to play an evermore important 
role in our energy future, so we must understand that these individuals 
were patriots in that effort to achieve energy independence in this 
country. And I would hope that we would understand that as we pay 
tribute to their courage, to their sacrifice, and to their bravery to 
go down in these mines, that we inherit on their behalf and on behalf 
of their families a duty of care to these individuals and a 
responsibility to make sure that we have done all that we can do, as 
the government, in assuring their safety and making sure that they are 
working under the best safe environment that is possible for them and 
their colleagues.
  Again, I thank the members of the West Virginia delegation for 
bringing this resolution to the floor and urge the support of it by all 
of our colleagues in the House.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. 
Res. 331, ``Honoring the sacrifice and courage of 12 coal miners killed 
and stamina and courage of one who survived the mine disaster in Sago, 
West Virginia and the sacrifice and courage of the two coal miners 
killed in the Aracoma Alma mine disaster and recognizing the rescue 
crews for their outstanding effort in the aftermath of tragedies.''
  I would first like to commend the West Virginia delegation including 
my good friend Mr. Rahall, for introducing this resolution honoring 
those who lost their lives and the dedicated rescue crews who worked 
tirelessly during the crises. This resolution proposes recognition of 
our brave citizens who gave their lives for their work. West Virginia 
is the Nation's second largest coal producing State that generates more 
than half of domestic electricity and provide millions of Americans 
with energy for their homes and businesses. The United States has an 
estimated 275 billion tons of recoverable coal reserves representing 
about 95 percent of all fossil fuel reserves in the Nation, meaning 
that the average of 7,600 pounds of coal per person per year is used in 
the United States.
  Moreover the coal miners are extremely productive American workers in 
the face of grueling conditions, producing 7 tons of coal per miner per 
day.
  During the last century over 100,000 coal miners have been killed in 
mining accidents in the Nation's coal mines. The Nation is greatly 
indebted to coal miners for the difficult and

[[Page H185]]

dangerous work they perform to provide one of the sources of fuel 
needed to operate the country's industries and to provide energy to 
homes and businesses.
  There were 12 miners, Thomas Anderson, Alva Martin Bennett, Jim 
Bennett, Jerry Groves, George Hammer, Jr., Terry Helms, David Lewis, 
Martin Toler, Fred Ware, Jr., Jack Weaver, Jesse Jones, and Marshall 
Winans, that lost their lives on January 3, 2006, but fortunately one 
miner was rescued, Randal McCloy. I also recognize the 2 miners that 
lost their lives early this year in a fire in Aracoma Alma Mine on 
January 19, 2006. These men were Don Israel Bragg and Ellery ``Elvis'' 
Hatfield.
  It is a burden on all of our hearts when hard working citizens of 
this country perish, especially while on the job. My prayers go out to 
the friends and families of those who have lost their lives.
  I support H. Con. Res 331 and I urge my colleagues to follow suit. I 
thank you for your consideration and yield the reminder of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, last month, America witnessed the 
tragedy of the Sago and Aracoma Alma mine deaths. We saw terrible 
things happen to good people, and the Nation was saddened by the events 
that unfolded.
  I join with my colleagues in honoring these hard-working Americans 
who died or were injured while laboring to support their families. We 
also recognize the individuals who worked so hard to save them.
  Our thoughts and prayers are with the friends, family, and neighbors 
of each of the, miners affected.
  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 
331, a resolution honoring the 16 extraordinary miners who lost their 
lives in the recent West Virginia coal mine accidents and recognizing 
the courage of Randal McCloy who survived. Further, I join my 
colleagues in extending our condolences to the families of these 
miners, and recognize the brave efforts of the rescue crews and 
volunteers during this time.
  I represent southwestern and southern Illinois, a region with a rich 
coal mining history. Coal mining has played a significant role in 
transforming and developing the region since the mid-1800s when 
substantial coal mining in Illinois began. In 2006, the coal industry 
continues to be a vital component of our economy, and one we are 
working to strengthen for the future. Improving mine safety standards 
is an important part of this process in Illinois, West Virginia, and 
other coal producing States.
  These unfortunate coal mining fatalities in West Virginia have 
highlighted the pressing need to revise the national coal mine health 
and safety s!andards to ensure miners are equipped with state of the 
art technologies and tracking devices, and sufficient emergency 
supplies of oxygen. I am pleased West Virginia legislators acted 
quickly to enact a state law requiring coal companies to give employees 
electronic tracking devices and to store oxygen supplies underground. 
Precautionary measures are needed to protect the health and safety of 
our coal miners and penalties for flagrant violations of the law and 
regulations must be enforced. To this end, I have joined my colleagues 
in the House as a cosponsor of H.R. 4695, the Federal Coal Mine Safety 
and Health Act of 2006.
  Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in honoring the West 
Virginia coal miners for their courage and sacrifice and expressing our 
deepest condolences to their families.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bonner). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Drake) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
331, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as 
amended, was agreed to.
  The title of the concurrent resolution was amended so as to read: 
``Concurrent resolution honoring the sacrifice and courage of the 16 
coal miners killed in various mine disasters in West Virginia, and 
recognizing the rescue crews for their outstanding efforts in the 
aftermath of the tragedies.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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