Robert Byrd

makes the majority leader and the majority party the subject of the minority, subject to the control and the will of the minority.

Never, ever, ever get rid of the filibuster. It is the guardian of minority rights and an essential engine for consensus.

The path of wilderness legislation can be as rugged as the land itself.

Thank you for more than 40 years of standing up for coalminers.

Twenty-nine men are now dead dead dead simply because they went to work that morning.

I don't believe it was because of lack of funding. I don't believe that MSHA lacked enforcement authorities. I don't believe that.

There's been a savings of 29,000 lives because Congress saw fit to act in 1969.

Massey mines were cited for 31,000 violations. This means that, on the average during that 10 year period, a miner was seriously injured every other day.

If I die, I want you to know I love you.

These laws are also jeopardized when the miners themselves are not incorporated into the heart of the inspection and enforcement process.

No one has done more for miners in this country than Senator Robert C. Byrd, of West Virginia.

Let us also hope that this hearing will provide information on the Government and company officials who should be held accountable.