Lynn C. Woolsey: “This resolution rightly honors the 29 courageous coal miners who were senselessly killed in the explosion at the Upper…”

“This resolution rightly honors the 29 courageous coal miners who were senselessly killed in the explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine in Raleigh County, West Virginia, last week; and it supports those family members left behind. Our deepest sympathies go out to these families, and we also hope for the speedy recovery of the two miners who were injured. Miners, like all working people, are the basis for America's future. And it is true that miners work in a very dangerous profession, but there is absolutely no excuse for a tragedy like this one. We don't know yet the cause of this explosion, but the investigations have begun. We do know, however, that Massey Energy, the mine owner, was cited for 450 safety violations in the year 2009 for the Upper Big Branch mine. Massey contested most of these citations, keeping the violations in legal limbo and preventing MSHA from establishing a pattern of violations that could have led to a shutdown of the mine; and it could have increased scrutiny of this owner and possibly prevented these disasters. These appeals filed by the companies like Massey have created a tremendous backlog at the MSHA Review Commission, a backlog that has increased from 1,500 cases in the year 2005 to 16,000 cases today.”