Political Quotes

“first of all, I have done this a number of times. I know you care. I know my colleague from Pennsylvania cares, but nobody has kept this issue alive more often and more consistently than Joe Manchin from West Virginia. I am only going to take a minute or two, then I have to step off. I appreciate our leader on this issue giving me a little time. In a few minutes, he will point out that last night, we had another coal company go bankrupt, Murray Energy. That potentially leaves 70,000 folks without a pension. In Virginia, we have about 7,000 miners who are dependent upon UMWA funds for their healthcare retirements. Another company, Westmoreland Coal, has already gone bankrupt as well, where literally folks are weeks away from losing their benefits. The truth is, this issue may not affect everybody across the country, but the people it does affect, it affects in a way that oftentimes undermines widows and pensioners--their very ability to maintain their livelihoods. Our country made a commitment back in 1947 to honor miners, and we would stand by that work. We are now going to be put to the test. My hope would be that this Miners' Act amendment would be included in the appropriations bill. I will do everything I can in my power to urge my colleagues to consider it. Again, I thank the Senator from West Virginia.…”