Political Quotes

“I thank the gentlewoman from New York. Mr. Speaker, 70 years ago, United Mine Workers of America President John L. Lewis--a lifetime Republican--crossed party lines to work with President Roosevelt and his administration to make a deal to end a nationwide coal strike. The deal ended up promising health and pension benefits for miners in this country in exchange for their lifetime of hard work. It was a promise that the Federal Government has kept since then. Every year, no matter who the President is, no matter who is in control of the Congress, it is a promise that our Nation has kept every single year for 70 years; but, Mr. Speaker, that is about to change. Right now, 22,500 coal miners in West Virginia, in Ohio, in my own home State of Pennsylvania, and across coal country are facing a complete loss of their health and pension benefits during 2017. It breaks the long-time promise between the coal industry, its workers, and the Federal Government. The continuing resolution before us purports to fix this problem by ensuring that 16,300 miners who would lose their health care on December 31 are taken care of. However, this is only a short-term Band- Aid, 4-month patch for health care, which leaves miners worse off in April than they are today. Most importantly, this CR does absolutely nothing to solve the pension problem--this in return for a lifetime of hard and dangerous work. There are actual long-term solutions available that this body should be considering.…”