Political Quotes

“I thank the Chair for consideration of combining these two amendments. The amendments before us today help restore and continue important grant funding that will provide level funding for the same number of States currently funded by the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Economic Development Pilot Program, which is used for the reclamation of abandoned mine lands in conjunction with economic and community development and reuse goals. These amendments are about ensuring the AML Economic Development Program continues to be appropriately funded and continues to afford the same grant opportunities to all currently eligible States. Similar amendments offered by Representative Griffith have passed the House in the last 2 years, and the Senate FY19 Interior & Environment Appropriations bill contains similar language and funding amounts. Funding for these economic reclamation grants was established in fiscal year 2016 by Chairman Rogers, and it provided opportunities for some of the hard-hit areas of Appalachia to not only restore the land, but also allow additional appropriated funds to be used for economic purposes, and they helped provide a way to prepare the land for community development. These amendments carry on that goal; they maintain the status quo. And let me stress the point: these amendments are not designed to take money away from the top three States receiving funding in the underlying bill.…”