Political Quotes

“It's an honor to be standing before the House this evening to talk about a very, very important issue, an issue that is important not only to my constituents in eastern and southeastern Ohio, but to Americans across the Nation, and the issue is the survival of the coal industry. Coal has provided America's energy engine for generations, and can for many future generations if we have policies out of this administration that reflect the value that the coal industry has meant to America and the future that it has in front of us. Coal is an abundant, affordable, and reliable form of energy. Coal directly or indirectly employs nearly 800,000 Americans and supplies approximately 40 percent of our Nation's power generation. Coal mining employees across my district number in the thousands in eastern and southeastern Ohio. It also provides nearly 80 percent of Ohio's electricity, and it's the energy engine for Ohio's manufacturing industry which so many of my constituents depend on for their livelihood. I'm very proud to be joined tonight, Mr. Speaker, by some of my colleagues who are equally passionate about the coal industry and its value to America, both in the past and in the future. At this point, I yield to my friend and colleague from the great State of Kentucky's Sixth District, Representative Andy Barr.”