[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 14 (Wednesday, February 8, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S868-S869]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 370--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

  Mr. BYRD (for himself, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Enzi, and Mr. Kennedy) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 370

       Whereas coal generates more than half of domestic 
     electricity, providing millions of Americans with energy for 
     their homes and businesses;

[[Page S869]]

       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, That the Senate--
       (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) extends the deepest condolences of the Nation to the 
     families of these men;
       (4) recognizes Edmund Vance and Paul Moss for their 
     sacrifice in the Boone County, West Virginia coal mines;
       (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.

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