On the recordJanuary 10, 2017
It is an honor and a privilege to serve the constituents of the Second Congressional District of West Virginia for a second term. As we begin the 115th session of Congress, my top legislative priorities are rolling back anti-coal regulations that have been imposed by President Obama's administration over the last 8 years; fighting the drug epidemic; repealing ObamaCare and making health care more affordable and accessible; and investing in our roads, bridges, airports, and other key infrastructure. West Virginia needs good-paying jobs. President Obama has spent the last 8 years waging a war on coal on our country. During this session of Congress, we must continue to work together to promote an all-of- the-above energy strategy that conserves our natural resources, cultivates our economy and jobs, and promotes American energy independence. One of our Nation's and our States' greatest natural resources is our fossil fuel. Fossil fuel, including coal, supplies around 85 percent of our Nation's energy. West Virginia produces about 15 percent of that total. Under the outgoing administration, we have seen our West Virginia energy industries come under attack even though we have made significant strides in recent years to improve the quality of our air, land, and water. By rolling back harmful regulations like the so-called stream protection rule, we can save 30,000 jobs in the Appalachian region right now.…
