[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 10415]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            THE WAR ON COAL

  (Mr. CRAMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, a couple of weeks ago, our President 
announced his intention to unilaterally disarm our national defense by 
cutting back our nuclear deterrent. This week, he announced his 
intention to unilaterally disarm our entire economy by declaring war on 
coal.
  In my State of North Dakota, the coal industry employs over 17,000 
highly paid workers that provide the lowest cost electricity to our 
retail customers anywhere in the country. They contribute $3.5 billion 
to our State's economy.
  And in case the President thinks that we need his EPA to keep our air 
clean, he should know that North Dakota meets all ambient air quality 
standards as prescribed by the EPA.
  And I will not sit idly by and watch this President steal the jobs, 
hopes, and dreams of my constituents, nor will I sit idly by while he 
and his EPA impose their mediocrity on my State's excellent stewardship 
of our natural resources.
  North Dakota will not retreat from this war waged on us by our 
President. We must and we will fight back.

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