Tom Harkin actually said...

I am told for the last 5 years we have given you the authority for flexibility to train incumbent workers.

Senator Harkin states that authority for training has been granted for years.

03/19/2007

More Tom Harkin Quotes

I'll have one last question, after I yield to Senator Byrd, and it's going to involve your comment about this open investigation by MSHA.

I would hope that you would pursue the second course of action.

I think that we need these people to be sworn in and everyone tell what they know, so we can get to the bottom of this.

In fact, in 2009, the number of fatalities in coal mines reached a low of 18.