Political Quotes

“first of all, I thank my colleague, Senator Capito. We come from the same State, and we have known each other for a long time, and we basically represent the same people, who have given so much to this country. I want to thank her. This is truly bipartisan, and that is how it should be in this body. When you have something causing the people in your State and in the country to be hurting, you don't worry about the politics. Democrat or Republican, you reach across the aisle and do the right thing. I thank her so much. Everything she said is absolutely correct. This thing goes clear back to 1946 under President Harry Truman. At that point in time, John L. Lewis basically was going on strike for the MWA. Every miner back in the 1940s belonged to the United Mine Workers. This Miners Protection Act basically fulfills the promise that a President of the United States made by Executive order. And what we have asked for now is to fix this. We have a pathway forward. Democrats and Republicans on both sides of the aisle, as Senator Capito has said, have stepped forward, and I am so appreciative of that. If we don't do something quickly--by the end of this year--they will lose their health care, and in another year or two they are going to lose their pensions. We are mostly talking about widows. Most of their husbands have passed away from black lung disease or other causes. These are widows who don't have much to begin with.…”