[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 24 (Monday, June 19, 2006)]
[Pages 1146-1147]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Signing the MINER Act

June 15, 2006

    Thanks for coming. Welcome to the White House, and thank you for 
witnessing this bill signing ceremony. In a few moments, I'm going to 
sign into law the most sweeping overhaul of Federal mine safety law in 
nearly three decades. The MINER Act of 2006 has strong support of mine 
workers and the mining industry, and it was overwhelmingly passed by the 
Congress. I want to thank the Members of the United States Congress who 
have joined us here for their hard work on this important measure.
    I thank the Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao, who has joined us. I 
appreciate the Governors from three important coal mining States, Joe 
Manchin, Ernie Fletcher, and Ed Rendell for joining us here as well. I 
was struck by how the Governors handled the tragedies of the mine 
incidents. I thought they were able to convey a deep sense of compassion 
in an attempt to heal hearts. And I thank them for their courage.
    I appreciate Bill Frist, who has joined us, and Mitch McConnell, 
Members of the United States Senate, as well as Mike Enzi, Senator Ted 
Kennedy. I'm particularly thrilled that Senator Robert Byrd is here. I 
don't know if you know this, but last Monday he achieved a milestone, 
and that is, he has served longer in the United States Senate than any 
other Senator in our Nation's history, and he's served with distinction. 
And we're glad you're here, Senator. Thank you for coming.
    I thank Majority Leader John Boehner for joining us, as well as 
Congressman Buck McKeon and Shelley Moore Capito, Hal Rogers, Rick 
Boucher from Virginia. I appreciate all the Members of Congress who've 
joined us. I appreciate the leaders of the mining industry. I appreciate 
the workers who are here. Thanks for taking time in your day to come.
    I want to welcome the families of those--who mourn the loss of life. 
We share in your grief, and we honor the memories of your loved ones. I 
know it's hard. It's really hard for you. But we welcome you here, and 
we're honored you took time to be here.
    I appreciate members of my administration who have joined us as well 
today. The hard work of American miners provides us with really 
important fuel. This economy is growing because of the work of our 
miners. Coal is an important part of our Nation's present and future.
    Thanks to modern technology and equipment, we've come a long way 
from the days when a miner would take a canary into the coal mines. 
Passage--and since the passage of the Mine Safety and Health Act in 
'77--1977, America has seen significant decreases of injuries and fatal 
mining accidents.
    Yet events in recent months have reminded us that mining is 
dangerous work. That's what we've seen. This year alone, accidents have 
taken the lives of 33 miners in our country. Just last month, five 
miners were killed in a mine explosion in Harlan County, Kentucky. And 
in January, Americans watched and prayed--a lot of Americans prayed with 
the people of West Virginia for the 13 miners that were trapped 
underground by the explosion in the Sago mine. Only one man came out, 
and he's with us today--Randal McCloy and his wife, Anna. And we welcome 
you all.
    And we know--we know, and I hope you know that your fallen mining 
brothers are with us here today in spirit. They're with us today with 
their loved ones here--eyes wet with tears but proud of their 
accomplishments. We're glad you're here.
    We honor the memory of all lost miners today; that's what we're 
doing signing this

[[Page 1147]]

bill. We make this promise to American miners and their families: We'll 
do everything possible to prevent mine accidents and make sure you're 
able to return safely to your loved ones.
    The bill I'm about to sign is an important part of the effort. The 
MINER Act will build on the Mine Safety and Health Administration's 
ongoing efforts to enhance mine safety training, to improve safety and 
communications technology for miners, and provide more emergency 
supplies of breathable air along escape routes.
    This new legislation will require mine operators to report any life-
threatening accident no later than 15 minutes after they know that one 
has occurred. And to ensure compliance with the law, the MINER Act will 
increase the maximum penalty for flagrant violations of mine safety 
regulations nearly fourfold.
    To implement this new legislation, we need effective and experienced 
leadership at the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Last month, I 
named, or nominated Richard Stickler of the State of West Virginia to be 
the head of MSHA. He's got experience. He served for 6 years as the 
Director of Pennsylvania's Bureau of Deep Mine Safety. He was a miner, 
mine shift foreman, a superintendent, and a manager, and the Senate 
needs to confirm Richard Stickler to this key position.
    America's miners work hard every day to support their families and 
support this country. It's hard work. You deserve the best training, the 
best equipment, and safeguards that we can provide to protect the lives. 
And this good legislation I'm signing today is an important part of 
honoring that commitment.
    May God bless you all. May God bless our miners and their families, 
and may God continue to bless our country. And now it's my honor to sign 
the MINER Act into law.

Note: The President spoke at 11:23 a.m. in Room 450 of the Dwight D. 
Eisenhower Executive Office Building. In his remarks, he referred to 
Gov. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia; Gov. Ernie Fletcher of Kentucky; 
and Gov. Edward G. Rendell of Pennsylvania. S. 2803, approved June 15, 
was assigned Public Law No. 109-236.