[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5055]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 129--HONORING THE 29 COAL MINERS WHO PERISHED IN THE 
 EXPLOSION AT THE UPPER BIG BRANCH MINE IN MONTCOAL, WEST VIRGINIA, ON 
  APRIL 5, 2010, AND REMEMBERING ALL THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES 
    WHILE MINING FOR THE RESOURCES ON WHICH THE UNITED STATES RELIES

  Mr. ROCKFELLER (for himself, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Enzi, Mrs. 
Murray, and Mr. Isakson) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 129

       Whereas West Virginia coal miners and their predecessors 
     not only have a strong commitment to providing a good living 
     for their families, but also take a deep and patriotic pride 
     in the fact that their work and the energy they produce has 
     made the United States strong and free;
       Whereas coal mining has been, and remains, an important 
     part of the economy of the United States;
       Whereas coal accounts for nearly \1/2\ of the electricity 
     produced in the United States;
       Whereas coal has been commercially mined in what is now the 
     State of West Virginia since 1810;
       Whereas since 1810, West Virginia miners and their families 
     have sacrificed greatly to mine the coal that powers the 
     economy of the United States;
       Whereas on April 5, 2010, 29 heroic and patriotic West 
     Virginia miners tragically lost their lives in an explosion 
     at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, West Virginia;
       Whereas a search and rescue effort was launched immediately 
     following the explosion that involved dozens of courageous 
     volunteers, first responders, and mine rescue teams who 
     fearlessly risked their lives to rescue survivors and find 
     lost miners;
       Whereas Carl ``Pee Wee'' Acord, Jason Matthew Atkins, 
     Christopher Lee Bell, Sr., Gregory Steven Brock, Kenneth A. 
     Chapman, Sr., Robert Eugene Clark, Cory Davis, Charles 
     Timothy Davis, Michael Lee Elswick, William Ildon Griffith, 
     Steven J. ``Smiley'' Harrah, Edward ``Dean'' Jones, Richard 
     Keith Lane, William Roosevelt Lynch, Joe Marcum, Ronald Lee 
     Maynor, Nicolas D. McCroskey, James ``Eddie'' Mooney, Adam K. 
     Morgan, Rex Lane Mullins, Joshua Scott Napper, Howard 
     ``Boone'' Payne, Jr., Dillard Earl ``Dewey'' Persinger, Joel 
     R. ``Jody'' Price, Gary Wayne Quarles, Deward Allan Scott, 
     Grover Dale Skeens, Benny Ray Willingham, and Ricky L. 
     Workman perished in the explosion at the Upper Big Branch 
     Mine;
       Whereas the terrible tragedy broke the hearts of the people 
     of the United States;
       Whereas since the beginning of 2010, 77 miners of coal and 
     other resources have lost their lives on the job, and 
     thousands more have been injured or diagnosed with 
     occupational illnesses, such as Black Lung disease;
       Whereas the families of the deceased continue to suffer, as 
     do those miners who have become seriously injured or ill; and
       Whereas Congress has long recognized the need to protect 
     the safety and health of miners: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) honors the coal miners who lost their lives in the 
     explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, West 
     Virginia, on April 5, 2010;
       (2) extends its continued heartfelt condolences to the 
     families of the deceased, who are still looking for answers 
     to the tragedy;
       (3) recognizes the hardships faced by survivors of the 
     tragedy and fellow miners who worked side-by-side with the 
     deceased;
       (4) acknowledges the risks faced by all miners, as well as 
     the important and often over-looked contributions that miners 
     make to the United States;
       (5) expresses its appreciation for the volunteers, first 
     responders, and mine rescue teams who fearlessly risk their 
     lives to save miners after tragedies; and
       (6) reaffirms its commitment to keep miners safe and 
     healthy on the job.

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