[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13775]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO JIMMY ROSE

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to a Kentuckian 
who has become a hero to many in my home state and across the country 
for his honest and moving portrayal of life in southeastern Kentucky. I 
am speaking of Jimmy Rose, the man from Pineville who has risen to fame 
this summer for his appearances on the television show ``America's Got 
Talent'' and his performance of the hit song ``Coal Keeps the Lights 
On.''
  Last night, millions of Americans tuned in to see Jimmy's performance 
in the final round of the competition, held in New York City. I know I 
speak for thousands of Kentuckians when I say that no matter what the 
outcome tonight, he is truly a winner in our hearts, and his original 
song is a winner with people all over.
  Jimmy is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who learned how to play guitar 
from a fellow marine while deployed in Iraq. He has worked as a coal 
miner and he himself wrote the song ``Coal Keeps the Lights On'' to 
raise awareness about how excessive regulations are hurting jobs in his 
hometown and in the coal industry.
  Coal is part of a vital energy sector in the State of Kentucky. But 
Jimmy is tired of seeing coal mining jobs disappear from Pineville, 
from his native Bell County, and from the region. I agree with him, 100 
percent.
  From Jimmy's first appearance on ``America's Got Talent'' earlier 
this summer, he became a phenomenon. People could identify with the 
words he sang, and they could identify with his courteous disposition 
and steadfast character as the trademarks of the people of southeastern 
Kentucky. Fans across the country have happily supported, voted for, 
and sung along with Jimmy Rose.
  I commend Jimmy Rose for putting a face on a problem that is all too 
often overlooked by some in Washington--the plight of the coal miner 
and the many hard-working Kentuckians whose jobs are related to the 
coal industry. In these difficult economic times, we should be doing 
everything we can to protect these jobs and protect a way of life for 
thousands of families.
  I think Jimmy's message is an important one. And I want to 
congratulate Jimmy Rose for all his success to date. I am certain that 
we will be hearing much more from him in the years to come.

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