[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 72 (Thursday, June 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1070-E1071]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        MINE IMPROVEMENT AND NEW EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACT OF 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 7, 2006

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2803, the 
Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006, to 
provide important Federal safety regulations for coal mines.
  The number of coal miners who have died so far this year is alarming 
and has highlighted the pressing need to revise coal miner health 
safety standards to ensure miners are equipped with state of the art 
technologies, tracking devices, and sufficient emergency supplies of 
oxygen.
  Our current Federal mine safety regulations are outdated. We need to 
act now to protect

[[Page E1071]]

the health and safety of our coal miners from future tragedies and 
enact stiffer penalties for flagrant violations of the law. Further, 
regulations must be enforced. I have cosponsored Representative 
Miller's bill, H.R. 5389, the Protecting America's Miners Act, to 
improve mine safety regulations to help protect miners in the event of 
an emergency.
  The bill before the House today, S. 2803, while not perfect, includes 
many important provisions to help save lives. The measure is a step in 
the right direction and is only the beginning of more mine safety 
reforms to be considered in the House to ensure our mine workers have 
the safest measures in place.
  I represent southwestern and southern Illinois, a region with a rich 
coal mining history. Coal mining has played a significant roll 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 began in Illinois, West Virginia, 
and other coal producing States. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to 
support S. 2803 to affirm our commitment to the hard working men and 
women who enter coal mines every day.

                          ____________________