Political Quotes

“the amendment before us is unnecessary and potentially harmful. Simply put, it would restrict the Mine Safety and Health Administration's ability to protect miners from coal dust exposure until October 2004. The proposed amendment is unnecessary because the Agency has already moved to suspend regulatory action on these rules until testing of revolutionary coal dust monitoring technology is completed. As a result, this amendment is not only needless, but could work to delay improved coal dust rules for perhaps several years to come, and I think it must be rejected. To do otherwise would be a great disservice to the miners these rules are designed to protect without any logical purpose. Let us look at the facts. On June 24, 2003, the Agency suspended its proposed rule in this area. The reason for the delay is clear. The first field test of new coal dust monitoring technology, called personal dust monitors, showed genuine promise, so much so that the PDMs could represent a potential revolution in monitoring miners' exposure to coal dust, and MSHA concluded that additional tests should be conducted before moving forward on this proposed rule. This is more than lip service. This appropriations bill already provides $250,000 to purchase 25 additional PDMs for testing in underground mines, and this additional testing is supported by both the mining industry and the miners' union.”