Nick Rahall: “I rise to alert my colleagues to an event that is occurring this afternoon that is directly related to legislation that…”

“I rise to alert my colleagues to an event that is occurring this afternoon that is directly related to legislation that this body will consider as well during the course of today. I inform my colleagues that at 2:15 today in the House Committee on Education and Labor we will unveil the portrait of the late Honorable Carl D. Perkins. At the same time on the floor of this body today, we will be considering legislation to reform the Federal Black Lung Program. There could be no better tribute to the legacy and to the remarkable career of the distinguished gentleman from Kentucky, Mr. Carl D. Perkins, than to pass this legislation through the House of Representatives today, the day that we unveil the portrait of Carl D. Perkins. Mr. Speaker, this legislation is all about human justice. I salute the leadership and commend them for scheduling this bill today, and I salute the distinguished chairman of the full Committee on Education and Labor, the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Ford], as well as the subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Murphy], for their leadership in bringing this long overdue legislation to the floor. It may not be a perfect bill, but indeed it is progress over the current system, and it will help to alleviate and help to end the cold bureaucratic nightmare many of our Nation's coal miners have been traveling through in order to obtain their just and legitimate benefits.”