On the recordSeptember 12, 2017
Mr. Chairman, I rise to acknowledge my dear friend from New York and her impassioned plea, but we have made news here tonight. All of a sudden, the people on the aisle opposite are all about the coal miners. Where has that debate been for the last 8 years? We start talking about kids and family. What about the coal miners' kids and families? We have got 35 percent less coal mines that are being actually operated right now, 35 percent. We have 43 percent less coal miners. We are talking about kids and all the things that we need to be doing, and we have cut back on the coal mining. Why don't we cut back on the inspectors who, according to our numbers, have 35 percent less mines to actually inspect? It is time that we rightsize the government. I strongly encourage my colleagues to support it. I thank the work of the chairman. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
