On the recordDecember 6, 2011
I rise today to mark a truly important day for my State, and indeed this entire nation. December 6 is National Miner's Day, a time when we stop to honor our nation's coal miners and remember those who have done so much to make this great country what we are today. These brave men and women work every day to meet the challenge of keeping our great nation free and strong, and although the history of mining has been marked by hardship and tragedy, the bravery of our miners has never faltered. It is so fitting that today we also learned--just this morning--of a landmark settlement of more than $200 million in one of the worst mining tragedies our State has faced. April 5, 2010, 29 miners lost their lives in the Upper Big Branch mine, which was then owned by Massey Energy. Today, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, Booth Goodwin, announced an agreement with Alpha Natural Resources, the company that purchased the Massey mines. This comprehensive and forward-looking settlement takes the right steps to truly protect our miners. By investing more than $120 million of this settlement in mine safety--including improvements to existing mines, a new West Virginia safety training facility and a research trust--this agreement demonstrates that the government and the company are serious about creating a true legacy of mine safety.…
