David Loebsack: “in recent years we have seen several mine tragedies that cost the lives of hardworking individuals. Our first thought…”

“in recent years we have seen several mine tragedies that cost the lives of hardworking individuals. Our first thought should always be the safety of mine workers. We must ensure there are adequate regulations in place to provide the safest working environments possible. Iowa is a proud home to many limestone producers. While they share our goal of protecting mine workers, we must also recognize the differences between limestone mining and coal mining. These local producers are concerned that some provisions in this bill may harm small businesses. These businesses provide jobs in our local communities and are critical to Iowa's continued economic development. I want to thank the chairman for his work on this bill and for his willingness to continue a dialogue on this issue. As this bill continues to move through the legislative process, I hope we can reach a compromise supported by workers, industry, Congress, and the administration.”