David Thomas: “I know all of us in this Chamber shared in the profound sense of relief and elation which accompanied the heroic rescue…”

“I know all of us in this Chamber shared in the profound sense of relief and elation which accompanied the heroic rescue of nine mineworkers from the Quecreek Mine near Somerset Pennsylvania earlier this summer. It was truly a remarkable story which combined the very best of the human spirit with the most modern mine safety and rescue technologies and produced nothing short of a miracle. Somewhat lost in the press accounts after the rescue was the role played by the Mine Safety and Health Administration which sent 70 of its own employees to Somerset to assist in the rescue. One of MSHA's important missions is to prepare mineworkers and local health and safety officials for responding to the sort of near disaster that we witnessed last month. The rescue in Pennsylvania was no accident. It was the result of thousands of man-hours dedicated to salvaging the best from the worst. We all saw firsthand how it works. I am very proud to be able today to recognize that a group of individuals from my own state has won this year's National and International Mine Rescue Contest.”