Political Quotes

“I come to the floor today to support Senators from both parties and in particular West Virginia Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Capito in their fight to protect health and retirement benefits for over 100,000 American coal miners and their families. Seventy years ago, the Federal Government made a simple promise to these union coal miners: America--our country--promised to provide health insurance and retirement benefits to miners who went down in those mines and put their lives at risk to power this great Nation. We recognize that this was dangerous work, but we believed it was essential to our economic growth and the national security of our country, and because of that belief, we promised that if these men would go down into the mines, our country would make sure they have some protection in case of injury, disability, or death. We promised that after a lifetime of backbreaking work, they would have a dignified and secure retirement. And we promised that if the worst happened, that their wives, their widows, and their families would still be provided for. When the American Government made this deal with the United Mine Workers of America 70 years ago, coal generated more than 50 percent of our power. Today, coal generates only about 30 percent of our power. Coal prices have plummeted and other sources of energy, like natural gas, have become cheaper and more prevalent.…”