On the recordJuly 22, 2015
Mr. Chairman, our coal industry is suffering in West Virginia because President Obama's regulations are artificially driving down demand for reliable and affordable coal. With power plants closing and home energy prices rising, our miners are suffering and jobs are being cut due to this administration's continuous overreach and interference. That is why Representative David McKinley's bill, the Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015 is so important to our communities in West Virginia. I am a proud original cosponsor. I strongly support this legislation because it allows States to adopt and implement their own coal ash permitting systems as long as they meet basic Federal standards. The States, along with their local communities and hard-working coal miners, know best how to implement coal ash regulations and will ensure that water quality and the environment are protected. Being able to recycle coal ash means we can turn our spent coal into useful products, like drywall and concrete. This means more mining jobs and a healthier economy for West Virginia and all of America. I urge my colleagues to join us in voting for H.R. 1734, the Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015.





