[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16462]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          NATIONAL MINERS DAY

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the proud 
grandson of Oscar Thompson, a surface miner, to recognize National 
Miners Day, which is celebrated on December 6. On this day, we 
recognize the important role our Nation's miners continue to play 
across the Nation.
  In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, my home State, the mining 
industry--the coal industry, in particular--is a vital contributor to 
the State's economy, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that 
are responsible for family-sustaining jobs and billions in economic 
output. In 2011, Pennsylvania produced more than 67 million tons of 
coal from close to 500 mines, making it the fourth-largest producer of 
coal and the second-largest producer of electricity among all the 
States.
  Today, coal is used to generate more electricity than any other 
resource in Pennsylvania, being responsible for 44 percent of the 
State's electricity generation.
  On National Miners Day, we commemorate the work and sacrifice of 
miners, past and present, and recognize the contributions they make to 
our economy, the Nation's energy security, and our shared prosperity.

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