Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman from West Virginia for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the McKinley motion to instruct conferees, asking that the bipartisan-supported coal combustion residuals program language from H.R. 4348 be retained in the final transportation reauthorization bill. Coal ash is of critical importance, as it is contained in the composition of the concrete used in our roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. The use of coal ash in transportation has allowed our country to maintain lower costs for infrastructure building. Studies have shown that coal ash costs 20 to 50 percent less than other products on the market today. During a time when our roads are deficient and we need solutions that are cost efficient, coal ash serves as a reliable resource. We need to invest in materials that will allow us the highest return on investment and stretch our highway dollars for needed improvements. In addition to the cost savings that this will provide, including this language is also critical to support our environment and nearly 300,000 jobs that rely on coal ash use across the Nation. In western Pennsylvania, I've witnessed the importance of coal ash to many communities in my district and surrounding areas. We have seen a transformation from orange skies and orange streams to an area whose beauty has been restored thanks to the safe use of coal ash for landfill, transportation use, and other purposes.…”