[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 40 (Monday, March 14, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S1446]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          COAL MINER PENSIONS

  Mr. REID. Madam President, I understand the Republican leader's 
concern about coal not being the way it was. It is simply that the 
American people have made a decision that we are going to have to look 
for another way to produce energy. There is still a place for coal in 
our society, but everyone has to acknowledge that it is not as it was a 
few years ago.
  I wish the Republican leader cared more about moving to help the 
pensions of these coal miners. They are desperately looking for 
support. We support them on this side. All the coal miners support it. 
We can get no support from the Republicans. We tried during the work we 
did at the end of the year. We came close, but Republicans said no.
  I want all those coal miners from Kentucky and around the country to 
understand that we are trying to help them with their pensions, but 
unless we get some help from the Republicans, there will be no support. 
That is too bad. We are trying. We are trying. We are trying.

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