Hal Rogers: “American coal families are under attack, not from a foreign power or a natural disaster, but by an administration that…”

“American coal families are under attack, not from a foreign power or a natural disaster, but by an administration that has resolutely, perversely, and now overtly proposed to end coal mining and coal-fired power generation in these United States. President Obama's calamitous climate change plan announced yesterday is the latest job-killing bomb to be dropped on Kentucky, West Virginia, Illinois, and dozens of coal States already knocked down after 4 years of administration policies. This administration has used code words like ``streamlining'' and ``permit reviews'' to shell our communities with regulations and red tape that even the most sophisticated businesses can't adhere to. Now the White House is dismantling our strategic energy advantage and unilaterally disarming our economy in broad daylight. I quote White House climate adviser Daniel Schrag straight out of the White House: ``A war on coal is exactly what's needed.'' Mr. Speaker, a war on coal is exactly what is not needed. A war on coal is a war on middle class Americans. It's a war on jobs, all kinds of jobs. It's already claimed 5,700 direct Kentucky jobs in just a year and a half, the vast majority of those in my economically challenged district. There is no recovery in Inez or high-tech boom in Harlan, Mr. President. My families are struggling to get back to work, pay their bills, or find salaries comparable to coal mining. And my communities are losing their main employers.…”