On the recordApril 4, 2017
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise today on the seventh anniversary of the tragedy of the Big Branch Mine, where 29 mine workers were killed. There is no better way to ask this Senate to do the right thing on extending healthcare for mine workers permanently. We have seen far too many times where mine workers in Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, and all over this country, the retired mine workers or their widows get a letter in the mail saying their healthcare is about to be canceled. We kick the can down the road for 3 or 4 months at a time. That is not acceptable. It is up to this Senate this month to make sure that we fix this once and for all so that mine workers who did so much for their communities and their families and their country can be assured that they will have healthcare for the rest of their lives as President Truman promised. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Ohio.
